We are proud to announce the release of the final report for Better Homes & Carbon, our advocacy project exploring barriers to energy-efficiency upgrades in private rental homes.

The report outlines the current significant industry roadblocks to rental upgrades, and recommendations aimed at overcoming them.

The culmination of extensive research and community engagement, the report delves into the urgent need for policy reform in the private rental market to address the overlapping cost of living and climate crises. The program also investigated the efficacy of the National Residential Scorecard.

“Mandate minimum rental standards. Legislate mandatory disclosure at the time of sale and lease. Enforce them. Use tax to incentivise it.” Says program lead Alastair Matcott.

You can listen to Alastair discussing the project on a recent episode of the Switched On podcast.

Key recommendations include:

• Tying Negative Gearing and Capital Gains benefits to NatHERS star ratings.

• Introduction of Temporary Full Expensing on energy efficiency upgrades in rental homes.

• Introduction of concession-card holder Priority Targets into the Victorian Energy Upgrades program

The findings provide a path forward to reduce emissions in the private rental market while addressing Australia’s housing crisis. The report is available for public review here.

Additionally, Green Energy Trading will be continuing to fund Scorecard assessments in rental homes in Victoria. If you or someone you know is renting and would benefit from an energy audit of their rental homes, please contact:

Alastair Matcott

Ph: 03 9805 0704

Em: alastair.matcott@greenenergytrading.com.au