Eligibility and support

BooST helps eligible residents reduce the cost of home energy upgrades.

Who can receive a subsidy?

  • The subsidy is for eligible homeowners in Boroondara. Renters can seek advice and involve their landlord.
  • It is only available for first-time participation in BooST.
  • A new owner can be eligible even if the previous owner received a subsidy for the same property.
  • Council checks eligibility and participation history. Enquiring does not reserve funding.

The program is open from October 2026 to July 2027, or until funding is exhausted, whichever comes first. Read the eligibility questions and answers.

Financial support for your home

Up to $2,000 per household.

Other government rebates or subsidies are applied first. BooST then contributes up to $2,000 towards remaining eligible costs excluding GST.

GST and any mandatory scheme co-payment remain payable by the resident. Council does not cover these amounts.

If the remaining eligible amount, after these exclusions, is less than $2,000, BooST covers only that amount.Any unused balance is automatically forfeited.

The $2,000 maximum applies per eligible household across all approved upgrade categories.

This subsidy is only available for first-time participation in the BooST Program. Council manually checks participation history before confirming eligibility. A new owner can be eligible even if the previous owner received a subsidy for the same property.

How the subsidy is applied

Your BooST specialist identifies the rebates and subsidies you qualify for and applies these before the BooST contribution. These illustrative examples show the calculation; they are not quotations or guaranteed rebate amounts.

Solar panels and a home battery

Supply and installation, excluding GST
$9,000
Federal solar and battery discounts — assumed
− $2,500
Other rebates assumed in this example
$0
Remaining eligible cost, excluding GST
$6,500
BooST subsidy
− $2,000
Your remaining cost, excluding GST
$4,500
GST payable by you
$900
You pay, including GST
$5,400

The full $2,000 BooST subsidy is used. The original price is $9,900 including GST.

Heat pump hot water

Supply and installation, excluding GST
$3,750
Federal STC discount in this example
− $576
Victorian VEU and other rebates in this example
− $480
Remaining cost, excluding GST
$2,694
BooST subsidy
− $2,000
Your remaining cost, excluding GST
$694
GST payable by you
$375
You pay, including GST
$1,069

The full $2,000 subsidy is used. Your $694 contribution before GST already exceeds the $200 minimum co-payment; it is not added again.

Draught proofing

Supply and installation, excluding GST
$1,090.91
Other rebates assumed in this example
$0
Remaining eligible cost, excluding GST
$1,090.91
BooST subsidy applied
− $1,090.91
Your remaining cost, excluding GST
$0
GST payable by you
$109.09
You pay, including GST
$109.09

The original price is $1,200 including GST. The unused $909.09 of subsidy is automatically forfeited.

For these illustrations, the listed rebates reduce the costs excluding GST. GST remains as shown and is paid by the resident. The solar-and-battery example’s $2,500 federal discount is an assumption; any additional eligible rebates would be applied before BooST.

Your quote will confirm the actual price, rebate amounts, GST and any required minimum co-payment. BooST does not cover GST or mandatory scheme co-payments. These examples are illustrative, and an enquiry does not reserve funding.

What we need to hear from you

  • Whether the property is within the City of Boroondara.
  • Whether you own, rent or manage the property, and whether you need permission to make these changes.
  • The home energy upgrades you are considering and relevant existing equipment.
  • Any prior BooST subsidy at the property, who received it if known, and whether ownership has changed.
  • Which other rebates or subsidies apply to the proposed work.

Different homes need different pathways

Owner-occupiers

Confirm your property details and any approvals relevant to the work.

Landlords and renters

The subsidy is available only to eligible homeowners. Renters and landlords can seek advice; renters may share the program with their landlord. Owner consent and any required approvals must be in place before work proceeds.

Apartments and units

Identify shared-property, access, metering and any owners corporation considerations.

New owners and previous support

A new owner can be eligible even if a previous owner received a subsidy for the same property. Council checks the ownership and participation history. Repeat participation by an existing recipient is not eligible for another subsidy.

Other rebates and incentives

Other programs have their own eligibility, product and installer requirements. The team can help identify the relevant checks and how eligible rebates affect your remaining cost.

Solar Victoria rebates ↗

Victorian Energy Upgrades ↗

Australian Government rebates and incentives ↗

Do I need a home energy assessment?

You can start a BooST enquiry directly. If you would like help identifying opportunities across your home, Solar Savers offers a separate home energy assessment service with its own eligibility conditions. Ask your BooST adviser which assessments your proposed work may need.

Explore Solar Savers home energy assessments ↗ — an external service with its own eligibility conditions.

Frequently asked questions →

Eligibility and support
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