Shelter NSW is happy to be part of the Better Renting campaign with our Policy Officer (and renter), Kayla Clanchy playing an active citizen scientist’ role. Better Renting has unveiled its latest report titled  Power Struggles, a culmination of the Winter Renter Researchers project.

This project saw 59 renters across Australia actively monitoring winter temperatures in their rental homes, and the findings are both insightful and alarming. The report was featured in yesterdays’s Sydney Morning Herald and features Shelter NSW Member Murray Maye, another renter researcher.

Key Lowlights:

• 85% of participants had a median temperature below 18°C, meaning they spent 50% of the time below that temperature. Weighted by population, this is equivalent to 72% of renters across Australia. 
• 46% of renters recorded a median temperature below 16°C (37% on a population-weighted basis).
• Properties were colder inside than out over 3 hours a day. In NSW, properties were only 2.8°C warmer inside than out, the worst result.