Better insulation will improve renters’ comfort at home.
05 April 2023
A new regulation will help Canberra renters spend less on energy bills.
The ACT has introduced a minimum insulation standard for rental properties.
Under the new regulation, rental properties must have adequate ceiling insulation, which will keep them warmer in winter, and cooler in summer.
Many ACT renters are living in housing that is not well insulated. This can impact their health, comfort and wellbeing at home as well as inflating their energy costs.
Rental property owners whose properties have no ceiling insulation or have existing ceiling insulation below an R-value of R2, will need upgrade it to a minimum R-value of R5.
The R-value is a measure of how well the insulation performs. R5 is typically installed in new builds in the ACT.
It is estimated over 60 per cent of rental homes, especially those built after 1997, already meet the standard.
Many rental properties will be exempt from the standard, such as lower-floor units in apartment complexes and dwellings where insulation cannot be feasibly installed due to physical constraints, such as roof design.
Zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 are available for ceiling insulation through the Sustainable Household Scheme for eligible rental providers.
The Home Energy Support Program also provides rebates for the cost of insulation upgrades to not-for-profit community housing providers and for rental providers registered under the Community Land Tax Exemption Scheme.
Rental property owners and renters alike should understand their rights and responsibilities under the regulation for minimum energy efficiency standards.
For more information about the regulation, visit https://www.justice.act.gov.au/renting-and-occupancy-laws/energy-efficiency-standards-for-rental-homes.
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