What does the legislation say about solar panels on apartment buildings? What are the options? What are the conditions? Where may you install them? Who should pay for them?
Contents
- How do solar panels work?
- Legislation on solar panels on apartment buildings
- Opportunities for apartment buildings
- Are solar panels still a good choice?
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels capture sunlight with photovoltaic cells. These cells convert sunlight into electricity. An inverter then makes this electricity suitable for use in the home or delivers it back to the power grid.
Legislation on solar panels on apartment buildings
General conditions
- You need an environmental permit.
- Your roof must be insulated and asbestos-free.
- Your roof must be sufficiently stable to support the installation.
- Your roof should be oriented to the south at an angle of 30 to 50 degrees. Check the orientation of your roof via the Solar Map. Your roof gets a score based on the annual amount of solar radiation.
- Green = ideal
- Yellow = usable
- Orange = limited use or unusable
- You must have your solar panels inspected(AREI inspection) by an approved inspector.
- You must report your solar panels to your grid operator within 30 calendar days of the AREI inspection. Note: Do you do this too late? Then you risk a fine of more than 1,000 euros. Don’t you do this? Then you risk having your solar panel connection suspended.
- You need to have a digital meter installed. After you notify the grid operator, they will contact you for an appointment to do this.
- Do solar panels change hands or addresses? Or do they move or store them elsewhere? Or are they taken out of service? Then you need to report this to the grid operator. Note: If you put your solar panels out of service, this is forever. So taking your solar panels out of service is irreversible.
Opportunities for apartment buildings
Private solar panels
As an apartment owner, you can have private solar panels installed under conditions. Does the roof of your apartment building belong to the common parts? Then you must get the agreement of the building’s association of co-owners (VME) during the general meeting with the syndic. You need a 4/5th majority. Consequences:
- To record this change, you must have the basic deed and/or internal regulations amended at the notary. This involves notary fees.
- There is a 6% VAT rate on the supply incl. installation of solar panels under the condition that your home is 10 years or older (read all conditions here).
Collective solar panels
As an apartment owner, you can have communal solar panels installed under conditions. Does the roof of your apartment building belong to the common parts? Then you must get the agreement of the building’s association of co-owners (VME) during the general meeting with the syndic. You need 2/3rds majority. Consequences:
- To finance the solar panels, you must jointly choose the financing method. For this, you need a 50%+1 majority.
- There is a 6% VAT rate on the supply incl. installation of solar panels under the condition that your home is 10 years or older (read all conditions here).
Are solar panels still a good choice?
- You increase the value of your apartment.
- You can apply for the My Rebuilding Loan.
- Most solar panels have a payback period of up to 10 years.
- Solar panels reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to a cleaner environment.
- Because you generate your own power, you reduce your energy costs and can consume more yourself at the same cost.
- With a feed-in contract, you receive compensation for the power you generated yourself and feed it back to the grid.
- With energy sharing, you share your green power with co-owners or the common parts.
- Tip: Check how much electricity solar panels generate on average in your municipality, your province or across all of Flanders via Stroomvoorspeller.
But note:
- You are no longer entitled to My Rebuilding Premium since Jan. 1, 2024.
- There is a lot of red tape associated with a solar panel installation: inspection, installation, digital meter, notify grid operator, etc.
Would you like to cite this article as a source? Then use:
Stiasteny, L. (2024, Sept. 11). Solar panels on apartment buildings according to legislation. Apartment.be. Consulted on (date XX/XX/202X), from https://www.appartement.be/zonnepanelen-op-appartementsgebouwen-wetgeving
Related articles:
- The asbestos certificate according to the legislation
- My Rebuilding Loan according to legislation
- Notary fees when buying a house or apartment
- What do you need an environmental permit for?
- Required documents for co-owned buildings