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Solar and Batteries for Townhouses, Duplexes and Strata Homes in NSW

Checked and updated by our licensed electricians: November 2026

Short answer: Solar and a battery are often possible on a townhouse, duplex or strata home. The first question is who owns the roof: on a strata title the roof is usually common property, so you need the owners corporation’s approval before anything is installed. Then it comes down to your own roof area, your own meter, a compliant battery position and the cable route. Torrens-title duplexes are usually as simple as a house.

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All-black AIKO solar panels on a grey concrete tile roof in Lennox Head, Northern Rivers NSW, installed by Sun Connect Solar
A compact tile-roof install in Lennox Head.

1. Who owns the roof?

  • Torrens title (including many duplexes): you own your roof, so it is much like a standalone house.
  • Strata title: the roof and outside walls are usually common property. You need approval from the owners corporation (strata committee/body corporate) before installing. NSW strata law has a process for approving sustainability infrastructure such as solar; your strata manager can tell you what your scheme needs.
  • Community title: check the management statement and by-laws.

2. What the owners corporation will want to know

We can supply a simple design pack for the meeting: panel layout on the roof area that serves your unit, where the inverter and battery go, the cable route through common property, roof fixings, and our licence and accreditation details. Approval first, install second.

A row of AIKO Neostar solar panels on a metal roof in Mullumbimby, Northern Rivers NSW, installed by Sun Connect Solar
AIKO Neostar panels: high-efficiency panels fit more power on a smaller roof.

3. Meters and the switchboard

Your system connects to your own meter and switchboard, so only your home uses and exports its power. On some blocks the meters are grouped in one place, which affects the cable route.

4. Where the battery can go

Batteries have location rules under AS/NZS 5139 (not in a habitable room, clear of exits and windows, protected from vehicles). In townhouses the garage or an outside wall is common, but shared garages and walls on common property need approval too. See where a home battery can go.

5. Is it worth it on a small roof?

Smaller roofs mean smaller systems, but high-efficiency panels such as AIKO help, and a battery lets you use more of what you make. See will solar work on my roof? and is a home battery worth it?.

Why Northern Rivers locals choose Sun Connect Solar

  • Our own in-house team designs and installs every system. Licensed electricians, no subcontractors, from our workshop at Wilsons Creek near Mullumbimby.
  • A face-to-face site visit before every install: compliant battery position, switchboard and RCBO check, so there are no surprises on the day.
  • SAA-accredited, a NETCC Approved Seller and a Sigenergy-approved installer, NSW electrical contractor licence 343044C.
  • 25-year workmanship warranty on our installation work, rated 5.0 stars on Google by local customers.

Where we install

Our own electricians install solar and batteries across the Northern Rivers, from our workshop at Wilsons Creek near Mullumbimby: Tweed Heads, Kingscliff, Banora Point, Bilambil Heights, Pottsville, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Ocean Shores, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay, Suffolk Park, Bangalow, Lennox Head, Ballina, Alstonville and Wollongbar, Lismore, Goonellabah, Coraki and Woodburn, Evans Head. See all areas we serve or the Northern Rivers solar and battery installation page.

Questions we get asked

Can I put solar panels on a strata townhouse in NSW?

Often yes, but the roof is usually common property, so you need the owners corporation’s approval first. Your strata manager can tell you what your scheme needs.

Do I need body corporate approval for a home battery?

If the battery or its cabling goes on or through common property, yes. Inside your own lot it may still be covered by by-laws, so check with your strata manager.

Can solar on a duplex be shared between both homes?

Usually each home has its own system connected to its own meter, so each household uses its own solar. Some designs share a roof, with each system wired separately.

Is solar worth it on a small townhouse roof?

Often yes. High-efficiency panels fit more power on a small roof, and a battery helps you use more of what you make.

Will you help with the owners corporation approval?

Yes. We can provide a simple design pack showing the panel layout, battery position, cable route and our licence details for the meeting.

Are you independently reviewed?

Yes. As well as our Google reviews, homeowners have reviewed us on SolarQuotes, where we’re rated 4.9 from 22 reviews.

Sources

Last checked 5 November 2026. Written in our own words from the sources below and our own install experience.

Author: our director, in-house head electrician and energy expert, in the trade since 1987.

Want to know what this means for your home?

Start with the free tools (no details needed to see a result): solar and battery price calculator, is my solar battery-ready? checker or the 60-second battery quiz.

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The chat is with our head electrician, about your power bills and what you want from a system. No obligation and no sales script; the firm price comes after we have seen your bills and your home.

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