Rental homes should be liveable homes. Unfortunately, that's not always the case in Victoria. With no minimum efficiency standards for rental properties, tenants can be left to pay massive heating and cooling bills, while energy waste from poorly insulated dwellings is adding to climate pollution.
Sometimes renters can feel like they’re missing out on the benefits of living in a greener, more efficient house.
That’s why our One Million Homes campaign is calling for all rental properties to meet minimum efficiency standards – so that everyone can benefit from lower bills and a more comfortable home.
But in the meantime, we’ve got a heap of suggestions for simple things that both renters and landlords can do that result in big environmental savings. See the articles and blog posts below.
Efficiency improvements aren't always a top priority for landlords, which is why we're campaigning for mandatory minimum standards. But if you feel comfortable talking to your landlord or real estate agent about simple upgrades that would make the home more comfortable for you and reduce its environmental impact, here are some tips on how to go about it.
We're working hard to get Victoria's rental laws updated, including getting minimum efficiency standards in place for rental homes. We hope we'll get a result in 2018, but in the meantime here's the low down on what the law currently says about efficiency and improvements, to help you work out where you stand legally with making the place you rent more sustainable.
So you want to make the place you rent more sustainable? The law on rental properties can be a tad unclear on when you need to ask your landlord’s permission and when you don’t, but here are some things you should definitely ask permission for. Here's a list of things to ask your landlord to do.
Here are a whole heap of efficiency tips specifically for renters, including advice on what changes you can make yourself (if you can afford it) and what require your landlord's permission.