How low can you go: SA renters shiver in houses that don’t meet WHO standards

South Australia’s rental market might be overheated but tenants are shivering in houses that don’t meet basic health standards.

The cost-of-living and rental crisis has left low-income South Australians shivering through indoor temperatures up to nine degrees below the global World Health Organisation minimum.

The WHO has declared 18C as the minimum for a “safe and well-balanced” winter indoor temperature.

A national study by lobby group Better Renting is recording temperatures at 70 sites over seven weeks, including 13 homes in SA.

The coldest temperature recorded has been 1C, by a Hobart person living in their car.

State study co-ordinator Bernadette Barrett said the average daily minimum recorded in SA homes was 13.6C, while the lowest minimum was 9C – half the WHO baseline.

Nationally from 92,706 temperature recordings, 65,982 were below 18C.

Ms Barrett said the biggest barriers to good heating were electricity and gas costs.

“It’s been quite shocking to see just how often renters’ homes aren’t meeting the WHO’s recommended healthy temperature of 18C,’’ she said.

“Concerns over energy costs has been a recurring theme we’ve heard from renters. But even when renters decide to use their heaters and just accept the high costs, their homes are still cold because they’re draughty and uninsulated. So it’s really a no-win situation.”

The Better Renting study will be used to lobby for action from government.

UnitingCommunities is lobbying state and federal governments for better tenant legal protections, including access to heating.

Its advocacy officer Aasha Sriram said winter heating bills were making people anxious.

Renters are paying higher heating bills in homes that can’t cope with cold. Picture: iStock

“Implementing minimum energy efficiency standards in rentals is a viable solution and comes with incentives for both parties,’’ she said.

“Property owners benefit from tax benefits for upgrading devices, tenants benefit from lower bills and warmer homes, and this will reduce overall health impacts on people.

“A practical and feasible solution would be when damaged devices are replaced, the device should comply with minimum energy ratings.”

Ms Sriram said the ongoing rental crisis and power imbalance between tenants and property owners were making matters worse for some.

“Due to the current rental crisis, low-income renters are not reporting faulty insulation or fixtures due to fear of eviction and rent increases,’’ she said.

Ms Sriram said there needed to be better communication between renters and power companies to make them aware of savings that could be made.

With the right equipment, people can be charged less or more for peak, shoulder and off-peak electricity.

“From a retailer perspective, energy retailers can offer enhanced support and information to help customers understand the recent changes to these ‘time-of-use tariffs’,’’ Ms Sriram said. “Low-income customers need more support accessing energy concessions, so streamlining the process similar to other states will go a long way in supporting customers.

“There is scope to further examine options for solar and battery to allow households to better heat their homes without further financial stress.”

Leejay Flack in her freezing Campbeltown rental. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Even the cat can’t take it

Staying warm is a nightly battle to keep electricity and gas bills down for renter Leejay Flack.

In the Better Renting study she recorded inside overnight temperatures as low as 9C and even the pet cat is using her body warmth more to get comfortable.

This is only five degrees above normal fridge temperature, well below the 18C minimum recommended by the World Health Organisation and almost 30C less than body temperature.

Ms Flack said with high energy costs and other cost-of-living pressures, she and her partner could no longer afford to use heating in their Campbelltown rental property, where even the cat gets cold.

“My partner and I use the oven more and leave the door open after to heat the living room,’’ she said. “Our current home is only eight years old but lacks insulation and has plenty of windows and glass doors.

“We wear long-sleeve undergarments under our jumpers and dressing gowns, with beanies and scarfs on really cold nights.

“Our bedroom records temperatures around 9-12C most evenings over winter. The house is freezing and leaving the warm couch for anything is a nightmare we avoid.”