Sweaty and Stressed: Renting in an Australian Summer

Better Renting has released the “Sweaty and Stressful” report, which shares insights from their summer research project Renter Researchers.

From December 2022 through February 2023, the project worked with 80 Renter Researchers across Australia to track temperature and humidity in rental homes. This research sheds light on the ongoing issue of substandard homes and the worsening issue of expensive energy, both of which are affecting renters in Australia.

Indoor Temperatures

Despite the unusually mild summer, people who rent still struggled with heat and humidity. Indoor temperatures were above 25°C for 40 per cent of the time, or over nine hours a day, and above 30ºC for an hour a day on average. The report highlights that substandard homes expose people who rent to a miserable experience of summer, which has negative effects on physical and mental health.

Another key issue identified in the report is the rising cost of living concerns due to record increases in energy costs and rents. Many renters felt anxiety around energy costs, causing people to self-ration and simply try to put up with unlivable indoor temperatures. Energy debt is a fact of life for a growing number of renters, who simply cannot afford to maintain a healthy home temperature on a limited income as other costs increase.

In Western Australia

The report also shares some key quantitative observations from each jurisdiction. It highlights that future summers are likely to be hotter, with heatwaves becoming more frequent, more severe, and longer-lasting. To address these growing risks, jurisdictions can introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes. This would help to ensure that renters have access to safe and healthy housing, and promote social equity by ensuring that low-income renters are not disproportionately affected by substandard housing.

WA was one of the hottest jurisdictions. From December 1 to February 9, renters recorded temperatures above 25°C for about 15 hours a day, with over 2 hours a day above 30°C. Researchers in WA did tend to record lower humidity, making it easier for people to feel cool.

One participating renter from WA said “it’s depressing. We live in an uninsulated 50s shack and it’s honestly like living in a tent”.

Further Reading

Sweaty and Stressed: Renting in an Australian Summer here.