Reducing energy use is the most common sacrifice Australians are making to afford their rent or mortgage, while many are limiting driving, skipping meals and delaying medical appointments, a new national survey has exposed.
Everybody’s Home’s report ‘Breaking Point’ captures the results of a survey of more than 1,100 Australians. Of those surveyed:
- Half (50%) reduced their energy use including heating and cooling in the past year to cope with housing costs, making it the most common sacrifice
- Many respondents avoided the doctor or appointments (42%), reduced driving (38%), relied on credit cards or ‘buy now pay later’ (30%), skipped meals (28%) and sought help from food banks or charities (20%)
- Nearly two in five (37%) had gone without essentials such as food or medical care to afford energy bills
- One in three (33%) had difficulty paying or were behind on their energy bills in the past year
- Three in five (60%) said they were experiencing housing stress or insecurity
- Half said the condition of their home has either made them or someone in their household sick (23%) or they were unsure (27%)
- Many had no external wall insulation (90%), draught sealing like door seals (83%), ceiling insulation (63%), working heater (46%), or working air conditioner or cooler (38%)
Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said: “Housing costs in Australia are so high that people are making drastic trade-offs to cling onto keeping a roof over their heads - from reducing energy use and driving, to skipping meals and delaying doctor appointments.
“The housing crisis is reshaping how Australians live. Sacrifices like these might be expected in a war or pandemic - not today in one of the richest countries on earth, where governments have the power to fix the housing crisis.
“These trade-offs expose just how unfair the housing market is and how deep the crisis runs. Australians shouldn’t have to make huge sacrifices just to prop up landlords or compensate for government policy failure and inaction.
“Our survey shows the most common way respondents are coping with rising housing costs is by cutting back on energy use. People are spending record amounts to stay housed, but many can’t afford to be comfortable, healthy and safe in them.
“Australians are forced to freeze in winter and swelter through summer because they’re sacrificing comfort to afford their housing costs, and because they live in substandard homes that lack basic heating, cooling, and insulation.
“Energy hardship stems beyond rising electricity bills, it’s also driven by poor housing conditions. Leaky insulation, draughty windows and inefficient appliances increase energy use and push costs even higher.
“Without basic rental standards, Australians will continue to be hit with soaring energy bills and get sick from homes that are overheated, freezing, or plagued by mould and damp.
“The stories we’re hearing are heartbreaking. One person told us that temperatures in their home makes their pain hard to manage, while another is limiting showers to once a week and laundry loads to once a month to afford the rent.
“Any federal plan to reduce power prices must include lifting home energy efficiency and enforcing minimum standards. If not, Australians will keep footing huge energy bills and remain trapped in unsafe homes that pose serious risks to their health and wellbeing.
“Australians deserve a national framework for liveable homes, with proper heating, cooling, insulation, ventilation, and repairs that are enforced by inspections not left to tenants to fight for.
“Governments must also invest in upgrades to older rentals and social housing, including energy-efficient heating, insulation, draught-proofing, and solar, to cut bills, improve health, and make homes comfortable for low-income households.
“We also need the federal government to invest in more social housing - these are low-cost rentals that people can actually afford.”
Contact details:
Sofie 0403 920 301 or Lauren 0422 581 506
