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.
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:
Exemption Eligibility:
Disclosure in Rental Ads and Leases:
Ceiling Insulation Upgrade Timeline
Certified Insulation Installers:
Electrical Safety Check:
Documentation Maintenance:
testimonials
Our Clients Love us
Margaret Goode
8 months ago
From quote to completion of our insulation and related electrical upgrade, Alexander Watson were straightforward and fulsome in their provision of information and detail about what needed to be done and how they would go about it. The work done then done was precisely as they described. All their tradespeople were on time, courteous and left the place spotless. Communication between the office and us about timing was all fantastic - businesslike, prompt and clear. One slight bit of damage to a ceiling was replastered and repainted perfectly, and without us having to prompt for the making good to be done. Again the tradespeople came exactly on time and left the place spotless. We are delighted with the outcome and would highly recommend Alexander Watson.
Daniel Gordon
8 months ago
Alexander Watson installed insulation above our garage, where there previously was none, and added an extra layer across the rest of the house.
Preparation for the work was comprehensive, with electrical inspections and safety rail installs being conducted prior. You can tell they take their safety and yours very seriously. The installers on the day also wore substantial PPE. Communication was also excellent.
The install was on-time and took a full day. The end result was fantastic, with every nook and cranny filled, and you can certainly notice a difference inside the house. Everything was also left neat and tidy, and the installers themselves were courteous and friendly.
Every trades person who has been in the roof cavity since has commented on the insulation and how comprehensive and quality the job is, and always guessed correctly who did it. This reflects their reputation in the industry.
We're now looking forward to winter, and the positive effect this will have on general temperature retention and our power bills!
Manjiree Kulkarni
8 months ago
We recently had our roof insulation upgraded by Alexander Watson, and overall we had a very positive experience. The team was friendly, professional and helpful throughout the process. They took the time to explain everything clearly and made sure we understood what work was being done. They also completed an electrical safety inspection and other electrical work in compliance with regulatory requirements. The offer of a lifetime insulation tidy-up service was an added bonus.
The retrofit guide published by Alexander Watson and handed over to us in the initial meeting, under “other necessary electrical work”, encourages customers to use their electrical services while the team is on site for other electrical jobs around the house. We wanted a sensor light installed, however, the electrician who conducted the electrical safety inspection initially did not agree with this. We had to persevere to get the sensor light installed, which was a little disappointing.
That said, we have already noticed a big improvement in indoor temperature, especially during the recent hot days and we are very pleased with the insulation upgrade overall.
Peter Monus
9 months ago
We hired the team at Alexander Watson to install ceiling insulation, wall insulation, ducted AC and an electrical switchboard upgrade in our 1960s house with some unique challenges. The process of working with the initial inspection and booking in the various stages of the install was really easy and the team was great at communicating different issues and decisions that needed to be made along the way.
We could feel the difference in temperature the day after the ceiling insulation went in and it does such a good job keeping the house cooler on hot days. We look forward to the house being much easier to keep warm when winter rolls around too. The ducted AC unit that was recommended to us works really well, is very quiet and the controller is easy to use or can be controlled with an app.
Would definitely recommend Alexander Watson, they know their stuff.
Deborah Reynolds
10 months ago
A few months ago, I asked Alexander Watson to insulate my home - ceiling, wall and underfloor. They were meticulous, and included everything that was needed in the quote - the probability that I needed a new switchboard to comply with updated regulations, making sure the wiring was compatible with insulation - everything. When some work wasn’t needed, they reduced the amount I had to pay to match the work that was actually done. They booked everything so the work was done as quickly as possible. They kept me informed throughout the installation so I knew exactly when they were coming and what was being done. They took before and after photos of every step, to ensure they were keeping to their standards. I was impressed by their safety protocols. I was also impressed that when they came to inspect the work once it was complete, they realised that something hadn’t been done, and quickly ensured that was done too. We were amazed at how much warmer the house was, even though it was after the end of winter, and we hadn’t expected to notice any difference. We’re even more impressed now it’s summer and we’ve had heat waves. I really didn’t expect so much difference since the house is an older brick veneer house, and we haven’t fixed any ventilation issues.
brenda sharp
10 months ago
Very pleased with Alexander Watson for my ceiling insulation. At all stages of the process staff were prompt, courteous and communicated well. Job was completed as agreed I would recommend them
domdomdom128
11 months ago
We had ceiling, walls and underfloor retrofitted after vacuuming out decades old debris.
Insulation is excellent but the service and staff are what you pay for, they're all super friendly and helpful.
Insulation went smoothly over 2 days, you get what you pay for, premium service and super nice staff.
4 months post install we had an issue with a leak from the condensation pipe of our aircon in the roof, hadn't turned it on since insulation was installed so wasn't aware.
Wally from AWI came out 2 days later and fixed it on the spot.
Always a warm reception when calling, after instal service is amazing. Can't recommend enough.
Helena Norback
11 months ago
Had recent work done to install insulation/electrical and air con replacement, very happy with the work. When they came round to quote it was highly informative and answered every query I had. Punctual and professional every step of the way and I swear my dog would've gone home with every one of them if I hadn't held her back. Highly recommend.
Mike Hughes
11 months ago
Rarely do you get lucky enough to have work done on your home in such a effortless manner with a superb final product done by polite, professional and knowledgeable trades folk that turn up when they said they would and do the job in the way they said they would. To do all the work at our place in Gowrie we had people putting up scaffold, people doing the roof insulation, people doing the electrical work, people putting sealer on the bricks, people under the house spraying insulation, at one point we think we had 12 trades folk here. They cleaned up after themselves when finished. Best of all the product has already proved its worth. I could not speak higher of the Alexander Watson team, all of them the product they sell and the advice they give. The photos show under the floor and the sealer on the bricks. I’m no longer allowed up a ladder so I can’t show the ceiling work.
Tim Mifsud
12 months ago
Alexander Watson was well priced, with a solid product and an excellent install and follow-up customer service. The house has a much more stable and comfortable temperature since they installed the second layer of batts in the roof space.
We noticed an instant 3 degrees Celsius improvement in the house overnight. In the warmer part of the day, the house is much cooler.
They also had to follow up as they had forgotten to turn the solar back on during install. They were there the next day and had it sorted within an hour.
Additionally, post the install, it rained, there was a water leak through the range hood in the kitchen. Since they were last in the roof, I rang them, they came out in 15min, diagnosed the problem as a cracked tile that had been cracked by someone else and fixed with bathroom silicone, and that they had potentially disturbed the previously dodgy fix up job that they hadn’t seen by walking near it. So, even though it wasn’t something they did, they fixed it by replacing that tile and sealing the range hood exhaust properly. No extra charge. Amazing! Highly recommend this company to insulate your home.
Tamara Cutcliffe
1 year ago
Having earthwool insulation installed exceeded my expectations. The multidisciplinary team were fantastic. The house is warmer and no doubt will be cooler in summer. Thoroughly recommended.
Jareth Maros
1 year ago
Contracted Alexander Watson to remove old insulation batts and remove loose fill from the ceiling.
To be honest, the experience was not a great one.
First point to raise is the constant email replies from different admin stuff. After correspondence with one team member, the following reply would be from a different team member. I found this frustrating. And then that new team member has not read the previous email (this would also be in a working day time frame).
Now the point to raise is of quality of work, they had only cleaned approx 80% of the ceiling, they spent 2 days (a Thursday and Friday). I know this because I cleaned the remaining missed areas including removing old batts on my Saturday so I could lay the insulation properly myself. If I hadn’t of laid the insulation myself and Alexander Watson returned to re-install, then I feel the missed areas would still remain and they would just install over the top. Additionally approx 6 tiles were broken, and they were only siliconed back together.
Now after email correspondence, and I assume with the manager, being told as a customer I should of raised my concerns on the Saturday so this company can return to do a quality check, I feel this should of been done at the workers level before they would of left the job site, then possibly another senior team member should of visited the job site post completion to confirm the work is done. This process has failed from the lowest part of the team. I’ll attach photos to this review.
Now we have both come to an agreement to a reduction in the invoiced amount.
