Deadline: 30-Apr-2026
The Residential Energy Upgrade Grants support owners of existing residential buildings in the City of Perth, Australia, to improve environmental performance, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen climate resilience. The grant offers matched funding of up to $20,000, depending on building size, for upgrades such as energy efficiency improvements, electrification, solar PV, batteries, and EV infrastructure.
About the Grants
The Residential Energy Upgrade Grants are designed to help residential buildings in the City of Perth adopt practical sustainability upgrades that reduce emissions, improve resilience to climate change, and create more resource-efficient communities.
The program supports the city’s broader environmental goals by encouraging lower energy use, reduced waste, cleaner infrastructure, and better access to sustainability benefits for residents.
What the Grant Supports
The grant is aimed at existing residential buildings where proposed works improve common areas or provide shared benefits for residents.
Eligible project categories include:
1. Energy efficiency upgrades
- Lighting improvements
- Hot water system upgrades
- Ventilation improvements
- Other measures that reduce energy consumption
2. Electrification upgrades
- Replacing gas systems with efficient electric alternatives
- Installing electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure
- Other building electrification measures
3. Renewable energy upgrades
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
- Battery storage systems
Funding Available
The grant is offered through three funding streams, based on the number of dwellings in the building.
Stream A
- For buildings with at least 20 dwellings
- Matched funding up to $20,000
Stream B
- For buildings with at least 10 dwellings
- Matched funding up to $10,000
Stream C
- For buildings with at least 4 dwellings
- Matched funding up to $5,000
Cost Sharing Requirement
The City of Perth will fund up to 50% of the total project cost.
This means:
- The applicant must contribute the remaining 50%
- Funding is provided on a matched funding basis
Payment Method
This is a reimbursement grant, not an upfront payment.
Applicants should note:
- Grant funds are paid after project completion
- Payment is made after submitting required documentation
- Applicants must be able to cover project costs in advance
Project Duration
- The funding term is 12 months from approval
Projects should therefore be completed and all required evidence submitted within this period.
Who Can Apply?
The grant is open to eligible owners or representatives of existing residential buildings in the City of Perth.
Eligible applicants include:
- Owners of existing residential buildings
- Strata-titled buildings / body corporates
- Providers of student accommodation
- Providers of aged accommodation
- Providers of supported accommodation
Basic Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a legally constituted entity
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Be located within the City of Perth
- Represent an eligible building with at least 4 dwellings
- Ensure the project relates to common areas or provides communal resident benefits
Ineligible Applicants
The following are not eligible:
- Government departments
- Political organisations
- Applicants with outstanding obligations to the City
Ineligible Projects
Projects are not eligible if they:
- Do not contribute to energy reduction or emissions reduction
- Involve individual dwellings only rather than common/shared areas
- Cover operational expenses instead of capital upgrades
Why This Grant Matters
This is a useful opportunity for residential property groups and accommodation providers in Perth because it helps them:
- Lower building energy use
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Improve building sustainability
- Support electrification and clean energy adoption
- Deliver shared benefits for residents
- Strengthen climate resilience in multi-residential settings
How to Apply
Suggested application steps
- Confirm building eligibility
- Check that the building is in the City of Perth
- Confirm it has at least 4 dwellings
- Check applicant status
- Ensure the applicant is a legally constituted entity with an ABN
- Identify an eligible communal project
- Focus on works in common areas or upgrades with shared resident benefit
- Choose the correct funding stream
- Stream A, B, or C based on number of dwellings
- Prepare a project budget
- Make sure you can provide the required 50% co-contribution
- Plan for reimbursement
- Ensure you can fund the project upfront before reimbursement
- Submit application to the City of Perth
- Follow the official grant guidelines and documentation requirements
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying for works inside individual apartments/dwellings
- Forgetting that the grant is reimbursement-based
- Choosing the wrong funding stream for the building size
- Proposing projects that do not clearly reduce energy use or emissions
- Not having the required ABN or legal entity status
- Failing to show a clear communal benefit
FAQ
1. Who can apply for the Residential Energy Upgrade Grants?
Eligible applicants include body corporates, strata buildings, and providers of student, aged, or supported accommodation within the City of Perth, provided the building has at least 4 dwellings.
2. How much funding is available?
Funding depends on building size:
- Up to $20,000 (20+ dwellings)
- Up to $10,000 (10+ dwellings)
- Up to $5,000 (4+ dwellings)
3. Is the funding fully covered?
No. The grant provides up to 50% of project costs, so applicants must match the remaining amount.
4. What types of upgrades are eligible?
Eligible upgrades may include:
- Lighting
- Hot water systems
- Ventilation
- Electrification of gas systems
- EV infrastructure
- Solar PV
- Battery storage
5. Are payments made upfront?
No. This is a reimbursement grant, so payment is made after project completion and submission of required documents.
6. Can upgrades inside private individual dwellings be funded?
No. Projects must relate to common areas or provide communal benefits, not individual unit-only improvements.
Final Takeaway
The Residential Energy Upgrade Grants are a practical funding opportunity for eligible residential buildings in the City of Perth to invest in energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy upgrades.
With grants of up to $20,000 on a 50% matched funding basis, the program is best suited to strata bodies and accommodation providers that can fund works upfront and deliver shared environmental benefits for residents.
For more information, visit City of Perth.
