Pro-social concerns characterise landlords’ energy efficiency retrofit behaviour: evidence and implications for energy efficiency policy in Victoria, Australia

Michaela Lang, Kun Zhao, Ruth Lane and Rob Raven

International Journal of Housing Policy, 2025, vol. 25, issue 2, 211-233

Abstract: Internationally, rental properties have fewer energy efficiency features than other homes, causing unnecessary carbon emissions and poor health outcomes for tenants. Landlords are the primary decision-makers for energy efficiency retrofitting of rental properties, yet their retrofit behaviour is not well understood. We surveyed 500 small-scale private landlords in Victoria, Australia, to examine how a range of variables impacted landlords’ energy-efficient retrofitting. Landlords who installed more retrofits were more likely to have greater concern for tenants’ comfort, a relationship with the tenant, or greater knowledge of property conditions. Despite the existing literature and in contrast to the research on owner-occupiers, financial variables, environmental concerns, and sociodemographic variables were not associated with landlords’ retrofitting. We propose that policies may be more effective if they are framed in pro-social (rather than pro-environmental or financial terms) and convey information about the impact of property conditions on tenants’ wellbeing.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/19491247.2022.2162197

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