Plug SolarNZ

Renters and body corporates

A renter can't put solar on someone else's roof. A kit that sits on the deck and leaves with you is the first kind of solar that fits.

Updated

Not yet legal in New Zealand: expected around mid-2027, no date set. The tracker has every step, and the payback calculator works out what a kit would save you.

Why it suits renters

  • It's yours. You buy it, it goes on the deck or balcony, and it comes with you when you move.
  • No building work. Overseas a kit plugs into an ordinary socket, with no electrician and no change to the switchboard.
  • Energy Minister Simeon Brown said people "will be able to buy a plug-in solar kit and take it with them if they move house" (Beehive).

What the parties say about renters

  • National: Shops selling plug-in panels "off the shelf" within the first six months of a re-elected National government. No watt limit or subsidy for kits. National Party, 15 October 2026.
  • Labour: SolarSaver: change the rules so renters can use plug-in panels, and subsidies of up to $3,000 for low- and middle-income households. Labour Party, 8 July 2026.
  • Greens: Urgently legalise plug-in solar and set up a renters' right to solar. Green Party, 20 July 2026.

None of these is law. The SolarSaver page covers who would pay for what.

Your landlord

No rule yet says whether a landlord can refuse a kit. Until one does, a kit that stands on its own frame and needs no screws in the building is the easiest thing to ask for. Put it in writing, say it unplugs and leaves with you, and keep the reply.

Body corporates

Apartment owners face body corporate rules about balconies and the look of the building. Ask the committee before you buy: the weight on the railing, the view from the street and the cable through the door are the likely questions.

Plug-in kits are not legal to connect in New Zealand yet. When they are, follow the new standard and the maker's instructions, and ask a registered electrician if you are unsure about your wiring.

Questions people ask

Can renters use plug-in solar in NZ?

Not yet: it isn't legal for anyone. Expected around mid-2027, no date set. When it is, a kit that sits on a deck or balcony and unplugs looks set to suit renters best, and Labour and the Greens both say they would make sure renters can use one.

Will my landlord have to agree?

Nothing has been decided. The Greens propose a renters' right to solar; Labour says it will change the rules so renters can use plug-in panels. Until a law says otherwise, ask your landlord before fixing anything to the building.

What about apartments with a body corporate?

Body corporate rules usually cover what you can attach to balconies and the outside of the building. Check them, and ask the committee early: a kit that stands on the balcony floor is a smaller ask than one bolted to the railing.

Sources

  1. Government prioritises Solar Review, Beehive, 17 August 2026.
  2. Labour to make power bills more affordable with SolarSaver, Labour Party, 8 July 2026.
  3. Green Party launches plan to cut power bills, Green Party, 20 July 2026.
  4. Plug-in solar for Kiwi homes next year, National Party, 15 October 2026.