Home Battery for Apartments and Rental Properties

A home battery as a tenant: it is possible

Many tenants and apartment dwellers think a home battery isn't for them. Understandably: you can't drill a hole in the wall for a fixed system, and the roof belongs to the homeowners' association. But technology has made an enormous leap. With today's plug-and-play systems, you can use a home battery as a tenant just as easily as a fridge.

In this article, we discuss all options: from compact balcony systems to portable batteries you can take with you when you move. With practical tips on homeowners' association approval and legal aspects.

What options do you have as a tenant?

There are several solutions that require no permanent modifications to the property:

• Plug & play home battery: plugs into a power socket, no installer needed. Moving? Unplug and take it with you.
• Balcony solar panels + battery: combine 1-2 balcony panels (800 Wp) with a compact battery. Everything via the power socket.
• Portable power station: models such as the EcoFlow Delta Pro or Anker PowerHouse function as a portable home battery.
• Dynamic contract + battery: even without solar panels, you save with dynamic tariffs and a battery.

The best options per living situation

Depending on your living situation, there are different optimal choices:

Apartment with balcony

The ideal setup is an Anker SOLIX Solarbank 2 E1600 (1.6 kWh) combined with 1-2 balcony solar panels. The panels hang on your balcony railing, the battery sits indoors or outdoors. Everything is connected via your power socket. Estimated savings: €150-€250 per year. You can later expand the battery with additional modules up to 4.8 kWh.

Rental property with garden

With a garden setup, you have more space. The Anker SOLIX Solarbank 2 Pro (4.8 kWh) is an excellent fit: weatherproof (IP65), plug & play, and you can use ground-mounted frames for solar panels. Savings: €250-€450 per year. When you move, you take everything with you.

Homeowners' association approval: what do you need to know?

In the Netherlands, as an apartment owner you need permission from the Homeowners' Association (VvE) to install solar panels on the exterior of the building. For a home battery that is placed indoors or on your own balcony, in most cases no homeowners' association approval is needed — it's comparable to placing a washing machine.

Want to hang balcony solar panels? Then approval is usually required because it changes the appearance of the building. Tip: more and more homeowners' associations are approving balcony systems. Prepare a brief proposal outlining the benefits (property value increase, sustainability) and emphasise that it's removable.

Practical tips for tenants

Make it easy for yourself with these tips:

• Always choose plug & play: no permanent modifications, no hassle with the landlord
• Inform your landlord: it's not mandatory, but shows good tenancy. Most landlords have no objections
• Keep everything: installation photos, purchase receipts and specifications. Useful when moving and for your insurer
• Use a dynamic contract: even without solar panels, you save with dynamic tariffs
• Consider the weight: a balcony system with battery weighs 30-50 kg. Check your balcony's load-bearing capacity

Costs and savings for tenants

The entry costs for tenants are lower than you think. A complete balcony system (2 panels + 1.6 kWh battery) starts from €1,200. A standalone plug & play battery with dynamic contract starts at €999. The payback period for tenants is between 4 and 7 years.

Bear in mind that as a tenant you may be eligible for the net metering scheme (until the end of 2026) if you have balcony panels. After that, a battery becomes even more valuable to use your self-generated electricity yourself.

Conclusion

As a tenant or apartment dweller, you have plenty of options for a home battery. Plug-and-play systems make it simple, affordable and portable. Whether you have a balcony, a garden, or just a power socket: there's always a solution that works.

Browse our plug & play batteries or request free advice for your specific living situation.