Advocates and Industry Unite to Urge Federal Government to Support Renters and Landlords with Energy Upgrades
120 civil society groups, renter advocates, and industry leaders have come together ahead of the upcoming federal election to call for urgent action on improving the quality, affordability, and energy efficiency of rental homes
In recognition of mounting cost of living pressures alongside climate-related risks, the Healthy Homes for Renters collaboration has released a Joint Statement urging the Federal Government to provide funding and support to States and Territories to implement mandatory minimum energy performance standards in rental homes.
The joint statement, supported by 120 organisations, outlines key measures the Federal Government should take to help renters, and landlords, and cut climate change emissions. Examples of measures in the statement include:
Establishing one-stop-shops to help landlords implement home energy upgrades, through access to advice, finance options, and tradespeople.
Conditional and targeted funding and financing options could be offered to assist landlords in meeting new energy performance standards, coupled with stronger protections for renters, ensuring landlords cannot pass upgrade costs onto tenants through excessive rent increases.
Mandatory energy performance disclosure, so renters know the efficiency of a home before they sign a lease.
Support for workforce development to expand the capacity of trades and suppliers needed to implement upgrades.
The statement has received backing from a wide range of organisations and people, including tenant advocacy groups, community legal centres, social services organisations, environmental groups, and the real estate industry. A briefing note with more detail is available here.
Full list of signatories
1 Million Women
Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited
ACOSS
ACT Shelter
ACTCOSS
Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless Persons
Anglicare NT
Anglicare Tasmania
ANIKA Legal
Anti-Poverty Network SA
ARCC, Inc.
Arid Lands Environment Centre
Asthma Australia
Australian Architects Declare
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights
Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council
Better Renting
Canberra Community Law
Care Financial Counselling Service
Catholic Care NT
CHOICE
City of Sydney
Clarence Climate Action
Clean Energy Council
Climate Action Hobart
Climate Action Merribek
Climate Action Network Australia
Climate and Health Alliance
Climate Emergency Australia
Climate for Change
Climate Justice Alliance NT
Climate Justice Union
cohealth
Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association
Conservation Council ACT
Conservation Council of SA
Conservation Council WA
Consumer Policy Research Centre
COTA ACT
COTA NSW
COTA NT
COTA QLD
COTA Tas
Council of Single Mothers and Their Children
Darwin Community Legal Service (Tenants Advice Service)
Doctors for the Environment Australia
Eco Profit Management Pty Ltd
Energetic Communities
Energy Consumers Australia
Energy Efficiency Council
Environment Centre NT
Environment Victoria
Financial Counsellors’ Association of Western Australia
First Nations Clean Energy Network
Friends of the Earth
Give Industries
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Health Justice Australia
Healthy Futures
Hindus for Human Rights ANZ
Housing for Health Incubator
Housing for the Aged Action Group Inc
Housing Matters Action Group Inc
Housing Older Women Movement
Human Rights Law Centre
Hume Riverina Community Legal Service
Jesuit Social Services
Justice and Equity Centre
Justice and Peace Office, Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
Light House Architecture and Science
Lighter Footprints
Make Renting Fair Alliance WA
National Shelter
Nature Conservation Council NSW
NCOSS
Nillumbik Climate Action Team
Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action
Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre
NT Shelter
NTCOSS
Older Women’s Network NSW
Oxfam Australia
Parents for Climate
Parramatta Climate Action Network
Port Phillip Emergency Climate Action Network
QCOSS
QShelter
Queensland Conservation Council
Renew
Rewiring Australia
SA Power Networks
SACOSS
Shelter NSW
Shelter SA
Shelter Tasmania
Shelter WA
Sisters of Saint Joseph
Solar Citizens
South Australian Financial Counsellors Association
St Vincent de Paul Society National Council
Sweltering Cities
Sydney Alliance
Sydney Community Forum
TasCOSS
Tasmanian Climate Collective
Tenants Queensland
Tenants Tasmania
TUNSW
Uniting (Vic/Tas)
Uniting Communities
Uniting Country SA
Uniting NSW/ACT
UnitingCare Australia
Varsity Lakes Community Resource Centre
VCOSS
Venture Housing
Victorian Trades Hall Council
Vote Earth Now
WACOSS
Yarra Climate Action Network