**Case studies available below**
Advocacy group Parents for Climate applauds today’s “Renters right to solar” announcement by the Greens, and calls on the major parties to either match it or offer alternative solutions.
CEO Nic Seton said: “Parents in our network regularly meet with MPs from across the political spectrum to push for all families to benefit from clean energy upgrades like solar. When we raise the issue of renters accessing the savings of solar, absolutely everyone agrees it’s a problem that needs solving, regardless of their politics.
“But so far it seems to have been consigned by parties to the too-hard basket, and neither Labor nor the Coalition have proposed a solution at the federal level until now.
“This proposal by the Greens is a welcome development that gets the topic on the agenda. We call on the major parties to either match this plan or say what they would do instead. As things stand, renters are paying more for electricity than homeowners who can put solar on. That’s not good enough.”
Single mum Emily, a renter in Coburg with an eight year old, says: “Solar panels would make a huge difference to my life and budget.
“At 43, circumstances have me still renting. I’m entirely using electricity where I can, including using an electric vehicle. My electricity bill went from $393.91 for the last quarter of 2023 to $1086 for the same quarter in 2024.”
Ben, father of two, is a tenant in his Alphington family home, and also owns an investment property which he leases out. Ben, who describes himself as a ‘rentvestor’, said he liked the solar-for-renters policy both as a tenant and as a landlord.
“As a renter, I've really noticed that electricity prices have gone up recently, so anything to help get them down would go a long way.
"And as a landlord I've looked into putting solar on my property, but it's hard to get it to stack up financially. It's great to see at least some solutions are being proposed here."
Parents for Climate and Climate Council released a report in 2024, Under Pressure: The climate crunch fuelling inflation and hurting Aussie families, which found that homeowners who could afford the upfront cost of clean energy upgrades were saving significantly on power bills. But renters, apartment dwellers and those in social housing were largely locked out of these savings.
“As a renter, I've really noticed that electricity prices have gone up recently, so anything to help get them down would go a long way.
"And as a landlord I've looked into putting solar on my property, but it's hard to get it to stack up financially. It's great to see at least some solutions are being proposed here."
Parents for Climate and Climate Council released a report in 2024, Under Pressure: The climate crunch fuelling inflation and hurting Aussie families, which found that homeowners who could afford the upfront cost of clean energy upgrades were saving significantly on power bills. But renters, apartment dwellers and those in social housing were largely locked out of these savings.
Media contact:
Nic Seton
+61 407 638 973
