Tenants back roll-out of Vic insulation regs

An overwhelming majority of renters would like to see Victoria’s proposed domestic energy efficiency laws spread across Australia.

The results in a survey by renewable energy company Green are hardly surprising since it means renters would be paying less to live in homes that were warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Equally unsurprisingly, a majority of property investors were against the idea – not least because it means additional cost to them with no obvious benefit.

The findings were drawn from a survey of a panel of 1006 people across Australia, commissioned by renewable energy provider Green.com.au, to discover how many renters, investors and owner-occupiers supported the reforms in Victoria, and whether they would support other states adopting the same plans.

It revealed that:

• 81% Australians support Victoria’s energy-efficient standards for rental properties
• Renters show the highest support, with 67% wanting them rolled out nationally
• Support for the reforms is especially strong among under-35s, at 91% 

Proposed changes to the minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties are part of the Victorian state’s efforts to move to net zero emissions. Clearly this will impact free-standing home owners and renters more directly, as apartment insulation and powers supplies are often linked to common property and owners corporation policies.

That said, the research has discovered that 81 per cent of Australians support the move, and 61 per cent would support all State Governments adopting the same standards.  

The new Victorian standards would see landlords required to install ceiling insulation, improve door sealings, replace hot water and heating systems with energy-efficient appliances at the end of their lives, install four-star energy efficient shower heads and three-star cooling systems in the main living area from October 2025. Final standards are expected to be released next month, October 2024. 

A Victorian government website reveals that there are grants available for landlords to upgrade their properties and shows figures that suggest properties with higher energy efficiency ratings can attract significantly higher sales prices.

The full research results can be found here but they reveal that 36 per cent of landlords are in favour of the standards for Victoria and one-third (33%) would support them across all other states.  

When Green.com.au analysed responses across age groups, it found a 93 per cent of under 25s support the measures, with more than half (58%) wanting to see them rolled out nationally. Younger people are also the largest group of renters, with almost half (46%) of those aged between 25-34 years old and 55 per cent of under-25s renting.  

Older demographics also showed strong support for the measures, with more than three quarters (78%) of respondents between the age of 55-64 supporting the measures. Similarly, 76 per cent of respondents aged 65+ and three quarters (75%) of respondents aged 45-54 years old also agreed with the measures.  

Green.com.au CEO and Co-founder David Green says: “The overwhelming support for Victoria’s energy efficiency standards through our research highlights a clear mandate from Australians – especially among younger demographics – for stronger environmental policies.  

“Our research sends a strong message to rental providers: adapting to these reforms is not just about compliance, but about aligning with the values of the next generation of renters who prioritise sustainability. 

“For the Victorian Government and other governments considering similar reforms, these findings indicate broad public backing for expanding these standards nationwide. Implementing them can help Australia’s emissions goals and at the same time enhance property values and tenant satisfaction across the board.”