ACT: Q&A Can the EC Refuse Requests for Solar Panel Installations?

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This ACT lot owner would like to know if the EC can refuse requests for solar panel installation in the ACT. Christopher Kerin, Kerin Benson Lawyers provides the following information.

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• QUESTION: In our complex, townhouses set below the High-rises are requesting to install solar panels on their roof. Lot owners in the high-rises are denying the request as they will be able to see the installs from their balcony. Can they do this?
• QUESTION: Our Executive Committee believes they can’t refuse permission for the installation of ‘sustainability infrastructure’ like solar panels under the Act. Is this correct?

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Question: In our complex, townhouses set below the High-rises are requesting to install solar panels on their roof. Lot owners in the high-rises are denying the request as they will be able to see the installs from their balcony. Can they do this?

I live in a complex consisting of a mixture of 4 storey unit blocks that look over the roofs of 26 Villa Units that are self-contained with own garages.

The complex is looking at installing solar panels to cover costs for the common property on the 4 storey building. Some of the Villa units are also looking at solar panels on their own roofs to reduce their electricity bills. However, the 4 story block units are denying the request as it will change the look of the roofs when they look down from their baloneys.

We have been told that all units are classified as “Class A” and have attached a plan of the site. Block D & E are 4 levels with individual units on each floor with underground carpark. Block A has 11 double story units with individual patio and double garages and Building B has 14 double story units with individual patio and double garages. We have a standard House Rules and no agreement regarding appearance of the building.

As stated some of the owners in Building A & B would like to consider installing solar panels on their individual part of roofs if practical to reduce electricity costs but have been told that owners from multi story buildings have said no as it would detract their views when they look out their balcony’s (or should say look down).

Can they do this and is it legal?

Answer: Assuming all the units in the complex are class A, then permission is required from the owners corporation to place the solar panels on the roof

Assuming all the units in the complex are class A, then permission is required from the owners corporation to place the solar panels on the roof (given the roof is common property).

Section 3.31 of my book addresses the installation of solar panels on common property:

3.31 Solar panels

Christopher Kerin
Kerin Benson Lawyers
P: 02 8706 7060
E: [email protected]

This post appears in Strata News #393.

Question: Our Executive Committee believes they can’t refuse permission for the installation of ‘sustainability infrastructure’ like solar panels under the Act. Is this correct?

GET NOTIFIED WHEN WE PUBLISH NEW Q&As, NEWS AND ARTICLES TO THE SITE

I am an owner in an unusual townhouse complex in the ACT. We have 105 townhouses on 30 acres of land, so most of our land is common property. This is a Class B complex, so unit roofs are privately-owned.

A number of owners have installed solar panels and solar hot water services on their roofs, presumably with approval from our Body Corporate’s Executive Committee (EC).

A very large solar panel installation has just gone on the northern side of the roof of the unit at the end of my row, with permission from the EC. This installation is of course highly visible from the common land, as are the other solar installations like these.

Our Body Corporate rules apparently never envisaged this kind of installation happening here, and there is no provision for it as far as I can see. It could be argued that these installations are contrary to those aspects of the rules designed to preserve the external appearance of our units, maintain uniformity of design, and conformity with the materials originally used for the external surfaces.

When I queried this latest solar installation, the chair of EC told me that they (the EC) were under the impression that they could not refuse permission for the installation of ‘sustainability infrastructure’ under the Unit Titles (Management) Act 2011. Is this correct?

Answer: There are three ways to obtain approval for sustainability or utility infrastructure from an owners corporation.

On the face of it, there is nothing stopping someone adding solar panels to their B class roof.

However, other considerations might affect this right (eg the existence of rules affecting this right, whether any wiring passes through common property, etc). In order to give definitive advice, I’d need to look at the rules, see some photos / drawings, etc. I’d need to charge for that work.

Please note this extract on solar panel installation from my book. Details of the text and where to get a copy are listed below:

3.31 Solar Panels

There are three ways in which the installation of solar panels might be approved by an owners corporation.

The first and most effective way is pursuant to section 23 of the UTMA. Section 23 provides that an owners corporation may, by ordinary resolution, approve the installation of a sustainability or utility infrastructure (which includes solar panels) on common property.

Secondly and thirdly, a lot owner can seek approval for the installation of solar panels via either (note both of these paths will require unopposed resolutions):

1. section 22 for a special privilege right (plus a special resolution to amend the owners corporation rules under section 108 of the UTMA if you wish to register the special privilege right as a rule); or
2. under default rule 4 to make an addition or alteration to the common property.

The owners corporation may wish to put conditions on the special privilege right such as the provision of:

1. plans and drawings
2. specification of the method of installation, and
3. a clear description of the location of panels.

Other conditions can include assigning responsibility for the repair and maintenance of the solar panels to the unit owner and liability for any damage or loss caused by the solar panels being installed.

Christopher Kerin
Kerin Benson Lawyers
P: 02 8706 7060
E: [email protected]

This post appears in Strata News #308.

Have a question about the installation of solar panels in ACT or something to add to the article? Leave a comment below.

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Read next:

• Up to $5,000 from the ACT Government helps cut common area costs
• ACT: Q&A Difference Between House Rules, Rules and ByLaws
• Solar on Strata [Whitepaper]: Strata Energy News
• ACT: Q&A Can I Sue My Owners Corporation and Strata Manager?

This article is not intended to be personal advice and you should not rely on it as a substitute for any form of advice.

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