Can you finance solar with your home loan? (2026)
By Erazon Solar, Pretoria · Updated
Yes. The big South African banks let homeowners pay for solar through their bond, either by drawing back money already paid in (a re-advance or access bond) or by increasing the loan (a further loan). Because the loan is secured on your house, the interest rate is your home loan rate, which is usually much lower than a personal loan (Engineering News, quoting FNB). This is how most of our clients who finance their systems pay for them.
What are the ways to pay for solar through your bond?
| Option | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Access bond / available funds | Use extra money you already paid into your bond | Usually the quickest; no new application |
| Re-advance | Borrow back capital you have already paid off, up to the original bond amount | Usually no new bond registration |
| Further loan / further advance | Increase the bond above the original amount, based on your home's current value | Needs equity and an affordability check; bond registration costs apply |
| Solar-linked home loan | Some banks lend extra specifically for solar | FNB allows up to 15% above the property's value for solar |
Sources: Standard Bank re-advance and further loan (LookSee), Nedbank NedRevolve, readvance and further loan (Nedbank), FNB solar-linked home loan (Engineering News).
What does each bank offer for solar?
- Standard Bank: a re-advance up to the difference between your registered bond and what you still owe, or a further loan if there is equity in the property (LookSee).
- Nedbank: use NedRevolve, a readvance or a further loan, or a new home loan of up to 110% with the extra 10% for the energy solution (Nedbank).
- FNB: a solar-linked home loan that can fund an installation up to 15% above the property's value. On a R1 million home with a full bond, that is up to R150,000 (Engineering News).
- Absa: a further advance based on your property's current value, and for applications approved from 22 August 2026 to 31 July 2027 Absa contributes up to R30,000 towards the further bond registration costs if you qualify (Absa).
Bank offers change. Check the current terms with your bank before you apply. We are not a bank or a financial adviser, and this is not financial advice.
What is the mistake to avoid when financing solar on a bond?
Paying it off over 20 years. A battery or inverter will not last as long as your bond. FNB's Kival Singh has suggested structuring solar finance so it is paid back within six to seven years (Daily Maverick). If your bank adds the amount to your bond, pay a bit extra each month so the solar portion is cleared in that time.
How does the monthly cost compare with the electricity you save?
That depends on your bill. Tshwane households on the top tariff block pay up to R5.12 a unit including VAT (EnergyBee), so for a home with a big bill, the saving can cover a large part of the extra bond instalment. Send us your last bill and we will work out the saving for your house, then you can compare it with the instalment your bank quotes.
What do I need from the installer to apply?
Banks generally want a written quote with the equipment list and total price before they release the money. Our quotes list every component, the installed price and what is included, so you can send it straight to the bank. Our package prices are published on the solar system prices page, so you can start the conversation with your bank before we even visit.