Mandatory Insulation for ACT Rental Properties2024-07-10T04:59:08+00:00

Mandatory Insulation for ACT Rental Properties

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and Insulation

Mandatory Insulation for ACT Rental Properties

Many renters in the ACT are living in poor quality housing that is expensive to heat or cool and doesn’t meet our community’s expectation around having a suitable home to help maintain health, comfort, security, and happiness.

The minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes will help improve energy performance, increase thermal comfort, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to climate change resilience.

Alexander Watson Help Landlords Meet Obligations

Energy efficiency standards for rental homes requires all landlords to have their insulation compliant within 9 months of signing a new lease using certified installers.

Alexander Watson understand this is putting a lot of pressure on landlords and we are here to offer landlords and pain free solution that removes the hassle and confusion to quickly and cost effectively bring their properties to the new standards.

  • Assess your current insulation rating

  • Provide cost effective solution options to meet the minimum standard

  • Quickly and efficiently upgrade insulation
  • Certified and fully insured installers
  • In house electricians to handle ESIR requirements
  • In house scaffolding and roof safety installers to comply with WHS legislation
  • Minimum disturbance to tenants

  • Provide all relevant documentation and evidence pack on completion to comply with the landlord’s requirements under the regulation

  • Australia’s first and largest employer of certified insulation installers

Alexander Watson Insulation specialists can simplify the process for Canberra landlords and property managers in achieving compliance with energy efficiency standards for rental properties.

Mandatory Insulation for ACT Checklist

Inspection of Insulation:

  • Check the level of insulation in your rental property before advertising it for rent or entering into a new lease.
  • Methods include checking the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) or hiring a trained building assessor. A certified insulation installer can also perform this check.
  • For more information, visit justice.act.gov.au/renting-and-occupancy-laws

Exemption Eligibility:

  • Determine if your property qualifies for an exemption from the minimum energy efficiency standard.
  • Permanent and temporary exemptions are available, and property owners must maintain supporting documentation.
  • Property managers are exempt from the application process but should keep evidence for tenant requests.
  • For more information, visit justice.act.gov.au/renting-and-occupancy-laws.

Disclosure in Rental Ads and Leases:

  • Clearly indicate in rental advertisements and new lease agreements whether your property meets the minimum energy efficiency standard or holds an exemption.
  • Property owners must disclose compliance from April 2023, and tenants can request evidence such as EER or a statutory declaration.

Ceiling Insulation Upgrade Timeline

  • Property owners must upgrade non-compliant ceiling insulation within nine months of signing a new lease, starting from April 2023.
  • Valid exemptions apply to this timeline.

Certified Insulation Installers:

  • If an upgrade is necessary, only obtain quotes from firms with certified insulation installers such as Alexander Watson.

  • Ensure upgrades are performed by certified insulation installers to guarantee safety for property owners and tenants.

Electrical Safety Check:

  • If upgrading insulation, organize an electrical safety check, or request your insulation provider to arrange one.
  • This step ensures the safety of property owners and tenants during insulation upgrades.

Documentation Maintenance:

  • Keep a record of your property’s ceiling insulation, especially after completing upgrades.
  • Documentation of compliance should be maintained, and tenants have the right to request evidence of compliance.

Why Choose Alexander Watson – Canberra’s Insulation Specialists?

  • Leading Insulation Specialist in the ACT

  • Established since 2011 with a reputation for excellence

  • Certified People – We only use EEC Certified Installers

  • Certified Products – Ensuring the best materials for the job

  • Protect Your Investment – Lifetime Warranty on insulation

  • Professional & Reliable Team delivering high-quality service

Government Assistance & Rebates

Landlords may be eligible for a 50% rebate (up to $2,500) on insulation installation costs when upgrading to R5.0 or higher in an existing home.

testimonials

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Matt Hughes
21:38 01 Jun 24
Professional from beginning to end. We had ceiling insulation installed and the team were communicative, punctual and the house is noticeably warmer. Would strongly recommend.
Greg Garrett
23:14 29 May 24
Andy, Kaila and Ian were all more than happy to help and provide advice. Kaila organised Andy to visit my home and assess our needs, this happened very quickly and a quote was provided the same day. Delivery of the product was arranged and Ian arrived when stated, was polite and helpful in placing the materials where we requested. Overall 5 star service from all staff that I dealt with, would highly recommend this company.
Herman van de Brug
08:55 28 May 24
We had ceiling and wall insulation installed, as well as a draughts-stopper over the bathroom fan.

Because of the nature of the job, I had some requests that would not come up very often and were not that easy to work around. I found not only did Alexander Watson take careful note of my needs, it was also very flexible as the date of parts of the installation had to be changed (they depended on other jobs having been done).

I would think that builders would find their competent staff and flexibility a huge benefit, as they would deal with a lot more moving parts some of which may be delayed than we did on our more simple insulation upgrade albeit a bit different from the norm.
Klaus Herrmann
11:25 17 May 24
The Watson team did an incredible job in spray foaming the shipping container, which is our temporary home. They went the famous “extra mile” to get the job done under difficult circumstances. Thanks heaps, for that! I can really recommend Watson and will use them again for my next insulation project.
Michelle Waterford
00:09 07 May 24
Laura Wilson
02:18 19 Apr 24
Huge thanks to the team at Alexander Watson for insulating our ceiling (vacuum and re-lay) and for carrying out additional electrical work. Especially, thanks to Ash for answering our countless questions, to Jack and the install team for a fantastic job, and to Chris and Wally for all their help post-install. The service and communication of the whole team was excellent and we're really impressed with the difference their work has made to the comfort of our house. I would not hesitate to engage Alexander Watson again - happy to highly recommend this company.
Nicholas Sealey
04:22 17 Apr 24
Unbelievable Service from start to finish. Alexander Watson delivered excellence from the Quote to Finish. Outstanding people, well trained, helpful throughout the process and accountable for their work. I can truely say that I have never had such a positive experience and happy to pay my Invoice. Alexander Watson you are setting the standard for every business in the ACT
Dean Fielding
19:03 13 Mar 24
From start to finish, the sales team the front office, the installers were amazing. Had wall and underfloor installation done. Very professional and they keep you updated with great communications. Highly recommended. Our house is now so warm and looking forward to the Canberra winter. Thank you Anderson Watson Insulation.
GLENN Mac
05:19 13 Mar 24
Excellent service from beginning to end. Workers appeared on time and conducted their jobs in a timely manner. Work was finished within 3 weeks of the quote. Everything was carefully explained so there were no nasty surprises. Highly recommend this company for underfloor insulation. We are already starting to see a difference, with the house experiencing only a 2-degree Celsius change throughout the day.

Insulation FAQ’s

Why do I need to remove the insulation from my ceiling?2024-02-16T13:54:54+00:00

Removing insulation from a ceiling might be necessary for many reasons, such as renovations, pest issues, installing new insulation, electrical safety and health. For more information see our insulation removal page here.

What is the purpose of crosshatching/adding another layer of insulation?2024-04-17T05:11:45+00:00

Cross-hatching two layers of insulation results in a substantial improvement in insulation efficiency. For more information about cross-hatching, download our Retrofit Guide here.

How do I choose ceiling insulation?2024-02-16T13:52:51+00:00

It all depends on the type of roof and the ceiling cavity. Usually batts are the best option, however in some cases a loose insulation or other specialised product might be a more effective solution.

How big are the drill holes and how are they filled in?2024-05-13T03:00:42+00:00

When the installers are doing wall insulation they will drill small holes under the windows to ensure all parts of the wall is being insulated. The drill holes are 16mm in diameter and are drilled in between the bricks. To fill them in we use mortar. If your mortar is not a standard grey, our team will aim to get the colour as close as possible to leave a seamless finish.

Can electrical work be done after wall insulation?2024-05-13T01:53:26+00:00

Installing cavity wall insulation can make electrical work more challenging. We recommend completing any wiring or electrical work before installing cavity wall insulation. Insulation doesn’t block access entirely, electricians can add wiring in at a later stage using a fibreglass straw rod, though it’s more complex than in an empty cavity. However, any insulation related electrical compliance  work will need to be completed before the wall insulation is installed.

VIEW ALL FAQ’s

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Insulation Installers Canberra
We are specialists in the installation and removal of Insulation for commercial and residential properties in Canberra and surrounding region. We pride ourselves on delivering outstanding quality and service to our clients.

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insulation@alexanderwatson.com.au
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