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<\/p>\nAs Australia swelters through its first heatwave of the year, renters will be looking at how to keep their homes cool.<\/p>\n
If your home does not have air conditioning it can be a challenge.<\/p>\n
So how can you go about getting air conditioning or ceiling fans in your rental? And what are landlords obliged to provide?<\/p>\n
Can I ask for air conditioning?<\/p>\n
If you find your property to be uncomfortable or unsafe due to the heat you could approach the home’s owner to install air conditioning as a first port of call.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Renters in only one state are guaranteed air conditioning. (ABC News: Glenn Mullane)<\/p>\n
Landlords may be motivated to keep good and long-term tenants in place by upgrading their property.<\/p>\n
You could also research other properties in a similar price bracket to see if they have air conditioning and put that as an argument to your landlord.<\/p>\n
Residential Tenancy Authority spokesperson Sam Galer said if the property was uncomfortable to live in it was worth raising with a landlord.<\/p>\n
“It will be an ongoing issue for future tenants,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I would encourage tenants to put [that] forward to an owner.<\/p>\n
“Future tenants might ask for the same thing so that might motivate an owner.”<\/p>\n
If they refuse, you could apply to the tribunal for a breach of agreement and apply for an order that the landlord make the premises habitable.<\/p>\n
This can prove difficult and will depend on your state laws.<\/p>\n
Is cooling a requirement in my rental?<\/p>\n
It depends on which state you live in and how hot your home gets.<\/p>\n
Ways to keep cool this summer<\/a><\/p>\n As power prices rise alongside the mercury, and the world continues to pump carbon emissions into the atmosphere, what can we do to stay cool at home?<\/p>\n In most states, landlords are not legally required to provide air conditioning.<\/p>\n If it is already installed and included as an amenity, it must be maintained and repaired if needed.<\/p>\n “Appreciating it is a competitive rental market, we encourage people to make sure the property they’re trying to rent is suitable for their needs,” Mr Galer said.<\/p>\n “If there are fans or aircon, they need to be in good repair.<\/p>\n “You could also, when looking for a property, think what it might be like all year round. If you’re inspecting in winter, make sure it is suitable year round.”<\/p>\n In most states, the home does have to be habitable, but the definition of habitable can vary.<\/p>\n In recent years, states and territories have been amending their tenancy laws to make sure landlords meet minimum rental standards.<\/p>\n These standards differ by state, and in some they are not enforced.<\/p>\n Victoria<\/p>\n In Victoria, minimum standards are higher than in most states.<\/p>\n Last year, the Victorian government announced that, from March 1, 2027, main living areas must have an efficient electric cooling system for new leases, starting from that time.<\/p>\n Additionally, changes were announced to increase efficiency in rental homes, including:<\/p>\n Ceiling insulation must be installed at the start of a new lease where there is no ceiling insulation already in placeWeather seals on all external doors, windows and wall vents must be installed at the start of a new lease<\/p>\n Victoria already requires all rental properties to have a fixed heater in the main living space.<\/p>\n The heater must be energy efficient.<\/p>\n Queensland<\/p>\n In Queensland, general habitability must be ensured in a property.<\/p>\n This means it must be clean, pest-free and free from hazards such as mould or asbestos.<\/p>\n Amenities such as air conditioning are not considered essential and fall outside of mandated standards.<\/p>\n Before a tenant signs a lease they may negotiate with the landlord about installing air conditioning.<\/p>\n Some landlords may be willing to install air conditioning as a condition of the lease and adjust the rent.<\/p>\n But legally, a landlord is only able to adjust the rent every 12 months.<\/p>\n New South Wales<\/p>\n Like Queensland, residential tenancy legislation in New South Wales does not require air conditioning or heating devices to be installed at a property.<\/p>\n But the premises must generally be habitable.<\/p>\n If it takes an air conditioning unit to make that particular premises habitable, a tenant may be able to argue for one.<\/p>\n Most renters avoid heating and cooling homes due to costs<\/a><\/p>\n A new report finds that about 70 per cent of renters were avoiding heating and cooling their homes to save money.<\/p>\n