Landlord move Victorian tenants are begging for

Angry man collector and scared girl standing doorway; debt collection generic

Victorian renters are being left out in the cold, and in the dark, with a major new report revealing more than one in four are living in homes with no energy-efficient features at all.

Another 22 per cent are unsure what features their home has, while 54 per cent feel completely powerless to make upgrades themselves, according to the PropTrack Origin Renter Reality Report released today.

Despite this, a significant number of tenants are still willing to pay more for better homes, with 38 per cent saying they would fork out extra for smart energy features. But those homes are few and far between.

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PropTrack senior economist Anne Flaherty said the findings painted a stark picture of a rental market falling behind on liveability, comfort and control.

“Many of these homes were built when energy was cheap, and insulation or efficiency just wasn’t part of the conversation,” Ms Flaherty said.

“But that legacy is hitting renters hard.

“They are paying for poor performance through higher bills, and they have no ability to change it.”

Ms Flaherty said short leases and ownership rules mean renters often cannot make even simple changes to their homes, let alone major upgrades.

“With average tenancies under two years, renters are reluctant to invest in a property they may be forced to leave,” she said.

“They want more control, but the system just isn’t built for it.”

Realestate.com.au economist Anne Flaherty

The report also shows 59 per cent of renters believe landlords should be responsible for improving energy efficiency, placing the pressure squarely back on owners.

While the cost-of-living crisis has made renters more conscious of their energy use, the PropTrack senior economist said many are still sacrificing basic comforts like heating and hot water.

“Renters are cutting back where they can, but without proper insulation or efficient heating, it’s just not enough,” Ms Flaherty said.

“They’re stuck paying the price for decisions they don’t get to make.”

Victoria’s new rental minimum standards now require ceiling insulation and efficient heating in all new tenancies, but Ms Flaherty said the rollout is still gaining traction.

“There are still huge gaps in awareness, and enforcement,” she said.

Around 59 per cent of renters believe landlords should be responsible for improving energy efficiency. Picture: Manuela Cifra

Origin Energy General Manager of Retail Catherine Anderson said renters were not completely helpless, and even simple changes could shave hundreds off the annual energy bill.

“A door snake can reduce heat loss by up to 25 per cent. That is huge for such a low-cost fix,” Ms Anderson said.

“There are temporary insulation kits for windows, portable blinds, and smart plugs that stop standby power.

“These are simple, renter-friendly options.”

Ms Anderson said renters with a smart metre could log into their retailer’s app to see their usage patterns in real time and adjust habits accordingly.

“More federal rebates and energy incentives were on the way, including new battery schemes, but renters needed support navigating the,” she said.

“Renters want better homes.

“Landlords need more reason to deliver them.”

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