1. Strata-titled townhouses and apartments
Strata properties (townhouses, villas, apartments) are eligible for the rebate if the body corporate approves the install and the property has private metering. Most townhouses and small villa complexes work. Most large apartment blocks don't - because the electrical infrastructure is shared.
What to do: Check your strata deed for renewable-energy clauses. Get strata committee approval in writing before quoting. Have your installer confirm whether the property's wiring can accommodate a battery install without affecting shared circuits.
2. Off-grid homes
The WA Residential Battery Rebate excludes off-grid properties - it specifically requires connection to either Synergy or Horizon Power. Why? The scheme's policy goal is reducing grid demand or diesel displacement; an off-grid home doesn't fit either bucket.
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program does apply to off-grid systems though. So off-grid WA homeowners can claim the federal stack but not the state portion.
What to do: Off-grid setups are different beasts entirely - focus on the federal rebate and don't bank on state subsidies.
3. Holiday rentals and short-stay properties
If the property is owned by you and rented out (Airbnb, holiday letting), the rebate applies - you're the owner, claiming once per address. But the maths gets fuzzy: holiday rentals often have low occupancy, meaning the battery doesn't cycle daily. Payback can stretch significantly.
What to do: Run the calculator with average annual consumption, not just the rental's peak months. If the property sits empty for 60+ days a year, battery economics weaken. Consider a smaller battery (5–8 kWh) sized for the peak rental season.
4. Properties held in a family trust or company
If the property title is held in a trust or company name (common for investment properties), the rebate application has to be lodged in the entity's name. The installer needs additional documentation, and your accountant may want to coordinate timing for depreciation purposes.
What to do: Allow an extra 2–3 weeks for paperwork. Talk to your accountant first - there are GST and depreciation implications that affect timing.
5. Demountable / relocatable homes
Demountable homes (granny flats, tiny homes, transportable buildings) are usually eligible if they have a fixed address, are connected to the grid via Synergy/Horizon, and have a unique electricity account. Caravans and motorhomes are not.
What to do: Confirm the property has its own NMI (National Metering Identifier) before quoting. If it shares meter with the main house, only one battery rebate applies to the combined property.
6. Multi-meter properties (rare)
Some older Perth properties have two electricity meters (e.g. for separate granny flat or workshop). Each meter is a separate eligibility unit - meaning you can install batteries on both and claim two rebates, one per meter.
This is rare but worth checking if you have an older property with multiple buildings.
7. Solar but no battery - adding a battery later
If you already have solar (installed before the rebate launched), you can absolutely add a battery and claim both rebates. The original solar install doesn't affect rebate eligibility - only the battery does.
One caveat: your existing solar inverter must be compatible with the battery setup. Many older inverters aren't. Get a compatibility check before signing.
8. Strata-titled commercial mixed-use
Mixed-use buildings (residential + commercial under one strata) are generally not eligible - the rebate is residential-only. If the residential portion has separate metering, it might qualify, but you'll need explicit approval from the scheme administrator.
The honest answer for edge cases
If your situation doesn't fit the "owner-occupied house with private meter" template, email wattsmyrebate@outlook.com and we'll point you at an installer with experience in your specific edge case. Some installers refuse complex jobs; others (typically the larger established ones - Solargain, Australis) handle them routinely.