Many urban Malaysians live in strata properties. Can they install solar panels? The short answer is: it is difficult — the rooftop is usually common property, so individual condo owners generally need MC/JMB approval and cannot install solar on it freely. Here's what the law says and what alternatives exist.
Why Condos Cannot Install Solar: The Legal Reality
Under the Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757), the rooftop of any strata property is classified as common property. This means it belongs collectively to all parcel owners through the Management Corporation (MC) or Joint Management Body (JMB) — not to any individual unit owner, including top-floor residents.
The Strata Management Act 2013 does not allow a parcel owner to alter common property without authorisation. This includes:
- Building rooftops — no individual solar installations allowed
- External walls and facades
- Corridors, lobbies, and shared spaces
- Any structural element of the building
Risks of unauthorised installation: Removal at your own expense and potential legal action from the MC/JMB. Insurance claims may also be voided if modifications cause damage (e.g., roof leaks).
Even with a majority vote at an AGM, individual rooftop solar for one unit remains legally contentious. The MC's fiduciary duty is to all owners, making it extremely difficult to approve modifications that benefit only one unit while using shared roof space.
The Only Exception: Accessory Parcel Roof Rights
The only legal pathway for individual solar in a condo is if your strata title explicitly designates the roof area above your unit as an 'Accessory Parcel'. This is rare and typically only found in certain penthouse units. Check your Sale & Purchase Agreement (SPA) or strata title documents for:
- Specific mention of roof rights
- Accessory parcel designation (e.g., "Parcel A-01 includes Roof Area R1")
- Exclusive use rights for maintenance
Even with roof rights, you still need JMB approval before installation to ensure compliance with building safety and aesthetic guidelines. Note that Trexon does not install individual-unit systems in strata buildings, and Solar ATAP excludes multi-tenant premises, so such a system earns no export credit.
JMB/MC Approval: Why It Rarely Works for Individual Units
Even if you attempt to get JMB approval, individual rooftop solar is difficult and depends on your building's by-laws and MC resolutions. MCs may decline applications due to liability concerns, roof warranty voiding, and fairness to other unit owners. Here's the process if you want to try:
Step 1: Review Strata By-Laws
Request a copy of your building's by-laws from the management office. Look for clauses about:
- Alterations and additions to common property
- Installation of fixtures on roofs or balconies
- Energy efficiency initiatives
Step 2: Prepare a Professional Proposal
Work with a SEDA-registered installer to prepare:
- Roof structural assessment report (by a third-party chartered structural engineer)
- Electrical schematic drawings
- Insurance coverage documentation
- Workmanship warranty covering roof leaks caused by the installation
- System monitoring and maintenance plan
- Visual mockups showing minimal aesthetic impact
Step 3: Submit Application to JMB/MC
Submit a formal application including:
- Cover letter explaining benefits (reduced common area electricity costs if shared)
- Technical proposal and drawings
- Contractor credentials (SEDA RPVSP registration)
- Proof of liability insurance
- Proposed installation timeline
Step 4: Attend AGM/EGM Meeting
Your proposal will likely be discussed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). Attend to:
- Present your case professionally
- Address residents' concerns (roof leaks, weight load, fire safety)
- Offer to share electricity for common areas (lifts, lobby) to win support
Step 5: Obtain Written Approval
If approved, ensure you get:
- Signed resolution from AGM/EGM minutes
- Written consent letter from MC/JMB
- Approved technical drawings with official stamp
Trexon does not do balcony solar
We do not sell, install or price balcony or plug-in solar of any kind, and we are not a dealer for EcoFlow, Bluetti or Jackery. Our smallest installed system is 6.82 kWp from RM17,499.
A balcony array also cannot join Solar ATAP: GP/ST No. 60/2025 §7.1 requires panels roof-mounted on a building within the premise, and §6.1(d) excludes multi-tenant premises — which is what a strata property is. There is likewise no SuRIA rebate on a management-corporation meter; that rebate is domestic tariff only.
For a condominium we work with one buyer only: the JMB or Management Corporation, on a rooftop system serving the common-area meter — lifts, pumps, corridor and car park lighting. That load runs through daylight, so nearly all of the output is self-consumed. Because Solar ATAP excludes multi-tenant premises, eligibility for the building is confirmed with TNB.
Community Solar: Shared Roof Systems
The future of condo solar is community or shared solar:
How It Works
- MC/JMB installs a large solar system on the common roof (e.g., 50-100kW)
- Generated electricity powers common areas (lifts, lobby, gym, pool pump)
- The system is sized for self-consumption; Solar ATAP excludes multi-tenant premises, so any export credit is confirmed with TNB per building
- Savings on the common-area bill can help reduce maintenance fees for all residents
Benefits
- No individual cost or approval needed
- Reduces the common-area electricity bill
- Can lower maintenance fees for everyone
Challenges
- Requires approval at a general meeting (check the resolution needed with your MC)
- Upfront CAPEX (RM 120k-240k for a 50-100kW system)
- Concerns about roof leaks and maintenance responsibility
What a Condo System Actually Costs
Trexon does not price balcony or individual-unit systems, so there is no unit-level cost table here. The system we build for a strata property is owned by the JMB or Management Corporation and serves the common-area meter.
That is a building-scale project rather than a per-unit purchase, and it is sized by the building's Maximum Demand, not by roof area. Because the cost turns on the number of common-area accounts, the MD ceiling on each, and roof access, we quote it after a site assessment rather than from a table. CAPEX is in the RM 120k–240k range noted above for a 50–100kW system; larger buildings cost more.
Two things that do not apply, whatever a quote may say: there is no SuRIA rebate on a management-corporation meter (domestic tariff only), and a balcony array cannot join Solar ATAP at all.
FAQ: Solar for Condos in Malaysia
Can I install solar panels on my condo?
No, not on the rooftop. Under the Strata Management Act 2013, the roof is common property and individual installations are prohibited. The only exception is if your strata title includes the roof as an accessory parcel (very rare, typically penthouses only), and Trexon does not install individual-unit systems. The realistic alternative is to advocate for a community solar project through your MC/JMB.
Do I need JMB approval for solar panels?
Yes, even if you have roof rights. JMB approval ensures compliance with building by-laws, structural safety, insurance requirements, and aesthetic guidelines. Skipping this can result in forced removal.
How much solar can fit on a condo balcony?
Trexon does not do balcony solar, so this is not a system we would build or price. Two independent reasons it does not work: a balcony array cannot join Solar ATAP (GP/ST No. 60/2025 §7.1 requires panels roof-mounted on a building within the premise, and §6.1(d) excludes multi-tenant premises), and the balcony facade is common property under the Strata Management Act 2013, so a parcel owner cannot authorise work on it. The workable route for a strata building is a JMB-owned rooftop system on the common-area meter.
Are portable solar panels worth it for condos?
Trexon does not sell, install or recommend portable or plug-in solar, and we are not a dealer for any of those brands. We have no view to offer on products we do not supply.
Can a condo use Solar ATAP?
Not as individual units. Solar ATAP excludes multi-tenant premises (GP/ST No. 60/2025 §6.1(d)), which includes strata buildings. For a JMB/MC rooftop system on the common-area meter, eligibility is confirmed with TNB per building, and the system is sized for self-consumption.
What is the cost of condo solar in Malaysia?
Trexon does not price balcony or individual-unit systems. For a strata property we quote one thing: a rooftop system owned by the JMB or Management Corporation serving the common-area meter. CAPEX is around RM 120k–240k for a 50–100kW system (larger buildings cost more), but it is sized by the building’s Maximum Demand and quoted after a site assessment, not from a table.
Conclusion: Individual Rooftop Solar Is Rarely Possible in a Condo — a JMB-Owned Common-Area System Is the Realistic Route
The reality: Malaysian strata law makes it rarely possible for individual condo owners to install solar panels on rooftops (confirm with your JMB and TNB for your building). The roof is common property, and modifications require extraordinary legal hurdles that rarely succeed.
The real opportunity for condo residents is community solar — where the MC/JMB installs solar on common rooftop space to power shared facilities and reduce maintenance fees for everyone. This is the legally sound, financially viable path forward.
If you're a condo resident, here's what you can realistically do:
- Check your strata title — if you have accessory parcel roof rights (rare), individual solar may be legally possible, although Trexon does not install it and it earns no Solar ATAP credit
- Propose community solar to your MC/JMB for common area electricity reduction
- Rally neighbour support — community projects need approval at a general meeting
- If you live in a landed property or townhouse, solar is straightforward — calculate your savings here
Contact Trexon for a free quote based on your property and usage data. We help MCs/JMBs design and install shared solar systems, funded by outright purchase, a bank loan or hire purchase.
