Does solar add value to your Perth home?

Perth has among the highest solar panel uptake rates in the world. As a result, solar is increasingly an expected feature rather than a differentiator — affecting how buyers value it at resale.

The general evidence

Australian research consistently finds that solar panels add measurable value to residential properties. Key findings applicable to Perth:

SunPower/Sunrun (US) and Clean Energy Council research: Solar homes sell for 3–4% more than comparable non-solar homes on average, with better outcomes in markets with high electricity prices. WA's electricity prices rank among the highest in Australia, which strengthens the value argument.

SERC (Sustainable Energy Research Centre) WA findings: Perth buyers increasingly factor in running costs when evaluating properties, and solar systems with good export tariffs are treated as tangible financial assets.

However: The correlation between solar installation and sale price includes a confounding factor — solar is more commonly installed by homeowners who make other home improvements too. Isolating the solar effect is difficult.

What actually affects solar's impact on resale value in Perth

1. Export tariff status (REBS vs DEBS)

A property with a REBS (Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme) solar connection receives 7.135c/kWh flat for all exports. This tariff is no longer available to new solar owners — it applies only to systems installed before 31 October 2020. REBS is non-transferable on sale; the buyer's account will be converted to DEBS.

For buyers: A home with REBS doesn't carry the tariff through the sale. The seller cannot transfer their favourable export rate. This is commonly misunderstood.

For sellers: Don't market REBS status as a buyer benefit — it won't apply after settlement.

2. System age and inverter status

A 10-year-old system with its original inverter may have 0–3 years of inverter warranty remaining (typical string inverter warranty: 5–12 years). A buyer is acquiring an asset with a potential inverter replacement cost of $1,500–$3,000 within the near term.

Buyers (or their conveyancers) increasingly ask about:

• Inverter model and age
• Panel warranty remaining
• Whether any DC isolator recalls apply (particularly for SSD-brand isolators, subject to a WA/national recall)

A newer, high-quality system (5 years or less, premium inverter) adds demonstrably more value than an ageing system approaching end of inverter life.

3. System size and quality

A 6.6kW system from a reputable Tier 1 panel brand with a Fronius, Sungrow, or SMA inverter is more attractive to buyers than an older 1.5kW system with an unknown brand inverter. The value uplift from a large, modern system is greater than from a minimum-size older system.

4. Buyer sophistication

Cash buyers and investors are more likely to properly value a good solar system (running cost reduction, remaining asset life). First-home buyers may not have solar savings in their calculation framework at all — for them, the solar may be a bonus rather than a price-driver.

Estimating the value to a buyer

A practical way to estimate a system's value to a motivated buyer:

Annual electricity savings (self-consumption value at A1): Self-consumed kWh × 33.26c/kWh = avoided import cost

Annual DEBS export income: Synergy bill export credits (typically $100–$400/year for a standard Perth system)

Total annual benefit: Typically $1,000–$2,500/year for a well-used 6.6kW system

Present value at 5% discount rate, 10 remaining asset years: $1,500/year × 7.7 (10-year annuity factor at 5%) = approximately $11,500

Reality check: Not all buyers will do this calculation. The practical market premium for solar in Perth is likely in the range of $5,000–$20,000 depending on system size, age, and quality. A 2022-installed 6.6kW system with a Fronius inverter is worth more than a 2012 1.5kW system.

What to document before selling a solar home

Sellers with solar should prepare:

• Original installation invoice and equipment list (panel brand/model, inverter model)
• Certificate of Compliance (electrical safety certificate from installation)
• Last 12 months of Synergy bills showing DEBS credits (demonstrating the system is working and exporting)
• Current monitoring app generation data (showing annual generation)
• Any inverter warranty documentation (remaining warranty term)
• DC isolator compliance confirmation (not a recalled model)

Having this documentation ready reassures buyers and their conveyancers, reducing the risk of solar-related queries delaying settlement.

Solar and building inspections

Buyers increasingly include solar in building inspection scope. A pre-sale solar inspection (separate to a general building inspection) costs approximately $250–$450 and produces a report on:

• Panel condition (any cracks, shading issues, soiling)
• Inverter status and fault history
• DC isolator compliance
• Mounting system integrity
• Current generation output vs expected

A clear pre-sale inspection report removes buyer uncertainty and can justify a higher negotiated price.

If you're selling a solar home and want to understand the financial value of your system as an asset, upload your recent Synergy bills to BillWise to calculate your actual annual savings figure — the most concrete number to share with prospective buyers.