<
https://theconversation.com/too-many-renters-swelter-through-summer-efficient-cooling-should-be-the-law-for-rental-homes-214483>
"Summer is coming – and it’s starting earlier, becoming hotter and lasting
longer. As the hot weather hits, many renters will be sweltering in their
homes.
The World Health Organization recommends a list of actions for people to deal
with heat. At the top of the list is “keep your home cool”. But for many
renters, this isn’t possible.
In recent years, Australian research reports and news articles have emphasised
the physical and mental impacts of extreme heat on people living in private and
social rental housing. Tenant advocacy group Better Renting’s “Sweaty and
Stressed” report, for example, although based on a fairly small sample, found
temperatures in rental properties across Australia last summer were above 25°C
for 45% of the time (and much more often in some states).
These reports generally find three potential problems:
* rental properties lack fans or air conditioners
* renters who have cooling appliances don’t use them due to the cost
* some homes can’t be kept at an acceptable temperature even when using cooling
appliances.
Poor housing quality, such as lack of insulation, also affects home owners,
especially those on low incomes. However, renters are usually less able to
modify their homes.
The clear evidence of the harm resulting from living in hot homes points to the
need to make effective cooling mandatory in rental housing."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
