Opening of a consultation for the insulation requirements of ACT rental buildings

Rental properties nationwide will be required to meet a minimum ceiling insulation standard under an ACT government proposal that will help keep Canberra homes comfortable, safe and efficient. The consultation opens today on the details of the plan’s implementation.

“Everyone deserves to live in a comfortable, energy efficient home, but due to the low energy efficiency of our buildings, many Canberrans live in homes that are expensive to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. Not only is there an economic impact, but in many cases it has a negative effect on health and well-being, ”said Energy Minister Shane Rattenbury.

“Rental properties that are not energy efficient lead to higher energy bills and sometimes dangerously cold or hot homes for people who call them home. It often happens that those with the least ability to pay have no choice but to live in the more expensive properties to heat and cool – this is unfair, and this new minimum standard will help solve this problem. .

“We have been very clear for a few years now that we intend to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties, and we have consulted the community and stakeholders throughout the process.

“We now want to involve the community more, especially tenants and rental service providers, in charting the way forward to implement this new standard of insulation. We want feedback on a range of different issues, including the timing of the phased introduction of this new regulation, and how the government can help with the transition and any security guarantees along the way.

“I encourage everyone to review the proposed standard and provide your comments over the next few weeks. We anticipate that this standard will come into effect from the middle of next year with a significant phase period, so that rental providers and the industry will have ample time to plan and upgrade their properties as required. needs.

“This work will complement the recent YourSay investigation into rental reforms in ACT, including ending evictions without cause, imposing restrictions on rental offers and setting clear minimum standards for rental properties. Together, these reforms will create a fairer and more secure rental system in Canberra.

“This is the first step in the implementation of minimum energy performance standards for rental buildings, as committed in 2019 as part of the ACT strategy on climate change. Future steps will consider additional measures to supplement the ceiling insulation requirement.

You can review and contribute to the government’s plans for a minimum standard for ceiling insulation for rental properties on the government’s YourSay ACT website.

This initiative advances a commitment to the 10th Legislative Assembly Parliamentary Accord by ACT’s Labor-Greens government.