Every renter deserves a heat-safe home. 

Right now, thousands of renters across New South Wales are baking in dangerously hot homes. As climate change brings longer, more frequent, and more intense heatwaves, our houses are failing to keep us safe.

The rental laws in NSW are outdated and fail to mandate cooling, insulation, or energy efficiency. From our Summer Survey and stories from the community, we know that many rental homes are simply not built for the current climate.

Even when a home does have a way to stay cool, surging electricity prices mean many families are forced to choose between a high power bill and their own health. We hear from renters who feel powerless to make the changes needed to keep their homes safe and cool. Even simple, common-sense additions like installing blinds or flyscreens are often out of reach for NSW renters.

We are calling on the NSW Government to protect renters from extreme heat by mandating minimum cooling and insulation standards. 

We know that winning safe, cool homes will reduce energy bills and lower the incidence of heat-related illnesses and deaths in our communities. Change is possible: both the ACT and Victoria have already introduced laws to mandate levels of insulation and cooling in rental homes. It is time for NSW rental rules to recognise that cooling is a necessity, not a luxury.

Will you add your voice to demand that the NSW Government makes heat-safe homes a right for every renter?