A new survey has found that three quarters of landlords in New South Wales either support or do not oppose introducing new energy efficiency standards designed to help ensure renters can heat and cool their homes efficiently.
The NSW government is currently considering new standards to improve energy efficiency in rental homes. If introduced, rental homes would need to meet mandatory energy-related requirements that could include everything from ceiling insulation, efficient hot water systems, or reverse-cycle air conditioners.
“Renters can’t insulate a ceiling they don’t own, they can’t install solar on a roof that isn’t theirs, and so they bear the brunt of the discomfort and the power bills, while the upgrades that would fix both sit outside their control,” said a report by Renew Australia which demonstrated the significant impact energy efficiency upgrades would have for renters.
And the need for these upgrades is becoming increasingly important, with many rental properties built before energy efficiency standards were implemented for new build properties, leaving them struggling to cope with longer and more intense heatwaves and cold snaps.
Renters are often also unable to benefit from new technologies, such as the latest energy efficient air conditioners, as well as rooftop solar and battery storage.
“For owners, this house might be a renovation project, but for renters, it’s just life,” said Renew Australia. “Their only option for increasing the comfort of their home is to run energy-guzzling appliances – and that’s if they can afford the power bills. For those who can’t, they have no choice but to live in uncomfortable and unhealthy conditions.”
But according to a new survey from Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) of 500 landlords across New South Wales, half support the introduction of minimum energy efficiency rental standards (MEERS) and only 24 per cent actively oppose the idea.
The survey, which was conducted by SEC Newgate, took responses from a representative sample of 500 landlords in NSW with an investment property.
A recent report from the ECA similarly highlighted the risks to NSW renters, with almost 70 per cent of renters avoiding heating and cooling their homes so as to save money.
According to ECA’s latest Consumer Energy Report Card, 68 per cent of NSW renters went without heating or cooling in the past year to save money, compared with only 57 per cent of owner-occupiers.
This meant that only 21 per cent of renters said they were able to keep their home comfortably warm through the most recent winter, compared with 40 per cent of owner-occupiers.
Mandating minimum energy efficiency rental standards would therefore not only help save renters hundreds of dollars a year on energy bills but would also reduce health inequality for those living in older, low-quality homes.
“Our research has found that a majority of landlords support sensible minimum energy rental standards to help renters live comfortably in their houses,” said Justin Whelan, ECA manager for consumer advocacy.
“Most landlords want to do the right thing by their tenants. They understand that minimum standards provide an even playing field for all landlords, setting a common expectation that ensures renters are able to live in safe, affordable and healthier homes.
“More than 80 per cent of landlords we surveyed agreed that minimum energy efficiency standards would have a positive impact on the comfort of their tenants.
“The main concern expressed by landlords in the survey was managing the additional up-front costs of any necessary upgrades to their properties. The good news is the NSW government recently announced a new Home Energy Saver Program, offering 0 per cent interest loans to pay for energy upgrades.
“Landlords who need financial support to meet these standards would be able to access these loans, addressing the reasonable concerns many expressed in our survey about managing up-front costs.”
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