In Melbourne, Madeline Cooper has developed a series of methods to tackle the sweltering heat before bedtime. Despite her efforts, which include taking a cold shower, using two fans, and dampening her sheets to find relief, the temperature in her bedroom can reach uncomfortable heights of 32 degrees Celsius. On particularly hot nights, she finds it necessary to relocate to her air-conditioned living room to get a better night’s sleep.
At 40, Cooper works for a non-profit and is grateful for the air conditioning unit she finally received after considerable negotiation with her landlord. The process of requesting an upgrade from an inefficient heating unit that didn’t comply with current Victorian rental standards dragged on for half a year. The hassle was compounded by concerns over rising electricity bills and fears that raising issues with her landlord could lead to increased rent.
Living in her weatherboard cottage for four years, Cooper highlights the anxiety tenants face—many worry that advocating for necessary improvements might negatively impact their rental agreements. She has joined a campaign urging the federal government to enhance rental home quality, affordability, and energy efficiency, particularly with the impending federal elections in mind. Among the changes she advocates for are better insulation standards, particularly as her home experiences bitter winter temperatures, sometimes dropping as low as eight degrees.
More than 100 renter advocates and industry leaders have united under the Healthy Homes for Renters initiative, calling for federal support to mandate minimum energy performance standards across rental properties. Joel Dignam, the executive director of Better Renting, expressed concerns for renters living in substandard conditions that suffer from extreme temperatures, highlighting that, unlike homeowners, renters have limited ability to improve their living situations.
Leo Patterson-Ross, head of the Tenants Union of NSW, echoed these sentiments, pointing out that many accommodations are becoming increasingly costly to heat or cool, especially amid rising living expenses. They advocate for a system that ensures equitable enhancements to properties, no matter a tenant’s location or landlord.
The World Health Organisation has identified heat stress as a significant contributor to weather-related fatalities and a factor that can worsen pre-existing health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and asthma. Notably, the only Australian states with minimum energy performance standards for rental properties are Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, while Tasmania mandates at least a heating unit for rentals.