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Configure solarLiving in a Condo? Solar Works Through Your Building — Here’s How
The complete 2026 guide for Malaysian condo and apartment owners. Strata title rules, JMB approval strategy, community solar ROI, and what to do if your building won’t budge.
Why Condos Are Different from Landed Homes
The core issue: you don’t own your roof. In a strata property, the rooftop, corridors, lifts, car park, and shared walls are common property owned collectively by all unit owners. No individual can modify them unilaterally.
Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757)
This is the governing law. Key provisions for solar installation:
- Any alteration to common property requires a special resolution at a general meeting
- Special resolutions require 75% majority of votes cast by eligible voters
- The JMB (pre-strata title) or MC (post-strata title) manages all common property
- Individual owners can be fined for unauthorised modifications to common property
What You Actually Own vs Common Property
- Interior walls, floors, ceilings of your unit
- Fixtures and fittings inside your unit
- Your balcony (with conditions)
- Air space within your parcel boundaries
- Rooftop (all of it)
- External walls and facade
- Corridors, staircases, lifts
- Car parks, swimming pools, gym
- Mechanical & electrical rooms
2 Paths to Solar for Condo Owners
Not all routes are equal. Your best option depends on your committee’s receptiveness, your budget, and your ambition.
Often the most practical option. The JMB or MC installs solar on the common-area meter for self-consumption. Solar ATAP excludes multi-tenant premises, so eligibility is confirmed with TNB per building. Solar powers lifts, corridor lighting, pool pumps, and other common area loads. Savings flow directly into the sinking fund, reducing maintenance fees for all residents.
- Reduces maintenance fees for everyone
- Self-consumption on the common-area meter
- Adds building green credential & value
- Requires 75% resident approval at AGM
- High upfront cost (RM 50K-200K+)
- Complex procurement & management
Feasibility: High if committee is progressive
How to Propose Solar Panels to Your JMB
A well-prepared proposal dramatically increases your chances. Follow these steps to build a strong case.
Step 1: Review Your Building’s By-Laws
Request a copy of the House Rules and Management By-Laws from your JMB/MC office. Look for any clauses about rooftop modifications, solar panels, or renewable energy. Some progressive buildings already have approval frameworks.
Step 2: Build the Business Case
Numbers win committees. Prepare a cost-benefit analysis showing:
- Current monthly common area TNB bill (get from JMB treasurer)
- Estimated solar savings: depends on the building's common-area load; confirm in a formal quote
- Installation cost: RM 50,000-200,000 depending on system size
- Payback period: about 4-6 years for condos
- Monthly maintenance fee reduction per unit
Step 3: Get a Formal Quote from a SEDA-Registered Installer
A credible quote from a SEDA-registered installer (like Trexon Energy) gives your proposal professional credibility. Include site survey results, proposed system size, panel and inverter brands, warranty terms, and projected annual kWh generation.
Step 4: Present at the AGM
Request to add the solar proposal as an agenda item at the next Annual General Meeting. Present your cost-benefit analysis clearly. Bring visual aids — before/after electricity bills, payback period charts, and testimonials from other Malaysian condos that have done it.
Step 5: Secure the Special Resolution (75% Majority)
Under the Strata Management Act 2013, modifications to common property require a special resolution. This means 75% of votes cast at a general meeting with at least 25% of total owners present. Lobby key opinion leaders in your building beforehand.
Step 6: Confirm the TNB Route Under the JMB Account
Once approved, the JMB uses the TNB account under the building’s name and works with a SEDA-registered installer to confirm the grid route with TNB. Solar ATAP excludes multi-tenant premises, so eligibility is confirmed with TNB per building.
Sample AGM Proposal Language
"I propose that the Management Corporation engage a SEDA-registered solar energy contractor to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of a grid-connected photovoltaic solar system on the rooftop of [Building Name], for the purpose of reducing common area electricity costs and improving the environmental sustainability of our development. The estimated system size is [X] kW with a projected payback period of [Y] years and annual savings of RM [Z]."
Community Solar: Often the Most Practical Option for Condos
When the whole building goes solar, everybody wins. Here’s how the economics work — and why the numbers are compelling.
How Community Solar Works for Malaysian Condos
JMB gets a technical review — a SEDA-registered installer assesses available rooftop space, shading, and TNB connection point
System is designed and installed — typically 20-100kW for a medium condo block. Connected to the building’s common area meter
Solar powers common areas — lifts, corridor lighting, swimming pool pump, lobby air-con, car park lighting
Sized for self-consumption — the system is sized to the daytime common-area load. Solar ATAP excludes multi-tenant premises, so any export arrangement is confirmed with TNB per building
Savings reduce maintenance fees — annual savings split across all units, about RM 8-13 per unit per month in the 200-unit illustrative example below
Community Solar ROI: An Illustrative Example
Illustrative scenario — not a Trexon project: 200-unit condo, 50kW rooftop system
| System cost (50kW) | ~RM 120,000 + SST (RM2,400/kWp) |
| Annual common area electricity savings | RM 18,800 (MV) - 31,900 (LV), energy charge only |
| Simple payback period | About 3.8-6.4 years |
| Savings per unit per month | About RM 8-13 off maintenance fee |
| System lifetime (panels) | 25 years |
| Total 25-year net savings | RM 350,000 - 680,000 (before SST, no tariff change) |
New Condos with Built-In Solar
The easiest way to get solar in a condo is to buy one that already has it. This is a fast-growing trend in Malaysia’s property market.
Developer-installed solar is becoming a standard feature in new high-rise developments, driven by:
- Green Building Index (GBI) and EDGE certification requirements
- MyHIJAU mark for sustainable developments as a marketing advantage
- Growing buyer demand for energy-efficient properties (especially post-COVID remote work)
- Government incentives for green building developments under Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR)
What to Look for When Buying a New Condo
System size relative to common area load — A 50-unit boutique condo with 20kW solar is better than a 500-unit block with the same system
EV charging provision — Are there solar-integrated EV charging bays in the car park?
Battery storage inclusion — Some premium developments include battery storage for evening usage
Transparency about savings — Ask the developer for historical common area electricity bills and projected savings
Green Building Certifications to Look For
Green Building Index (GBI) — Malaysia’s home-grown rating system
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies)
MyHIJAU — Malaysia’s green recognition mark
Alternative: Community Solar Farms & Solar REITs
If your condo cannot install solar, you can still financially participate in Malaysia’s solar revolution — without owning a single panel.
Green Energy Tariff (GET) from TNB
TNB’s Green Energy Tariff lets you pay a small premium on your monthly bill to guarantee your electricity comes from renewable sources (mostly large solar farms). It’s not solar ownership, but it achieves the same environmental outcome. No installation required.
Community Solar Subscription Programs
Trexon does not offer a community-solar subscription. CREAM is an aggregation mechanism announced by the authorities; check details with Suruhanjaya Tenaga or TNB before committing to any operator.
Solar REITs on Bursa Malaysia
Invest in solar through the stock market. Several Malaysian REITs and infrastructure trusts hold solar plant assets. YTL Power and Malakoff have significant solar in their portfolios. As the sector matures, dedicated solar REITs similar to those in the US and Singapore are expected to list on Bursa Malaysia.
P2P Solar Energy Trading (Emerging)
In Singapore and Australia, peer-to-peer energy trading lets individuals buy solar energy directly from neighbours. Malaysia’s Energy Commission is studying this model. When implemented, condo residents could buy solar credits from nearby landed homeowners who have excess solar generation.
Condo Solar Options: Quick Comparison
| Option | Approval Needed | Cost | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community solar (JMB) | 75% AGM vote | RM 50K-200K (building) | RM 3-42/unit/month (100-300 units) |
| Individual rooftop | JMB written approval | Not offered by Trexon | Not estimated |
| Green Energy Tariff | None | Small premium on TNB bill | Environmental only |
| Solar REIT / investment | None | Any amount (stock market) | Market returns (not guaranteed) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Considering a Move to a Landed Home? Calculate Your Solar Savings First.
For landed property owners, solar can be a worthwhile investment in 2026. Use our calculator to get a personalised estimate based on your electricity bill, home size, and location.
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