Rating existing housing stock for energy performance - development of an Australian national scheme

The mandatory disclosure of residential building energy, greenhouse and water performance has been a key goal expressed in Australian government building energy and carbon emission reduction targets. A major issue for the Australian real estate industry since a proposed scheme was mooted in 2011 is what will mandatory disclosure look like?

This paper provides an analysis of home energy efficiency rating and the current Residential Building Mandatory Disclosure (RBMD) landscape in Australia at both the Commonwealth and State/Territory level. The release of a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) including an assessment of the costs and benefits of various options for a national scheme provides a measure of likely regulation and practices around house sale and lease transactions.

Some five years on since the introduction of more stringent energy efficiency performance regulations for new housing and the declaration by an Australian federal government that states and territories adopt energy performance disclosure mechanisms for older houses at point of sale or lease, issues with implementation and the perception of stakeholders and the tools that may be employed are investigated as are wider energy efficiency and sustainability issues to do with the nation’s housing stock.