Rental-Insights-A-COVID-19-Collection - Flipbook - Page 33
RENTAL INSIGHTS:
UNHEALTHY HOUSING
What is the relevance
to Australian policy?
This survey adds to a growing body
of evidence that Australia’s homes
have comparatively poor energy
performance. Rental homes typically
perform even worse. This has negative
impacts on the health of occupants,
including children, and puts household
budgets under greater strain. This
is particular salient in recent years,
given striking increases in utility costs.
Different governments have attempted
to address this through incentivising
landlords to improve household energy
efficiency. In general, however, these
have been largely ineffective. For
example, a 2009 subsidy scheme
for household insulation began with
a separate component especially
for property investors, but was later
scrapped due to low demand. Landlords
made up a disproportionately low
proportion of participants in the scheme.
In the face of this, more governments
are considering regulating minimum
standards to address the unhealthy
conditions facing people who rent. The
ACT Government has committed to
implementing minimum performance
standards for rental properties, and
the Queensland Government has
also proposed minimum measures.
Victoria has published draft regulations,
including a requirement for energyefficient heaters, and in late 2019,
Australia’s energy ministers committed
to developing a ‘national framework
for minimum energy efficiency
requirements for rental properties’.
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This issue has a significant health
dimension. However, another relevant
context is climate change. State
governments have committed to
net-zero carbon emissions by 2050;
they are also cognisant of the need
for adaptation. Improving the energy
efficiency of rental properties—
typically, through regulated minimum
standards—would reduce carbon
pollution from fuel consumption, and
also assist with climate adaptation.
Cannot keep comfortably warm in your house during winter vs. household annual
income before tax
35%
30%
25%
20%
While many rental
households face
cold temperatures,
the households that
contain children face
additional health risks
15%
10%
5%
0%
Under $31,000
$31,000 to $59,000 $59,001 to $90,000 More than $90,000
