The current flood crisis calls for a desperate need to future proof homes in Australia’s changing climate: expert comment

Dr Trivess Moore, Senior Lecturer in RMIT's School of Property, Construction and Project Management (0408 318 182 or trivess.moore@rmit.edu.au) 

Topics: Housing, climate change, low carbon futures

“If the current situation in the eastern states isn’t a sure sign we need to reconsider where and how our houses are built, then there’s a long and volatile road ahead for Australian housing.”  

“The majority of existing and new housing in Australia is not suitable for performing in our current climate.”

“Predicted climate changes over the coming decades will only exacerbate this issue for many Australian households. We are already seeing the negative impact on people's health and wellbeing during extreme weather events. In some cases, households will find their housing unliveable for periods of time if we see climate change much further.”

“Before buying an existing house, people should seek out information about the quality and performance of the house. Home energy assessments, such as the Scorecard, can provide households with the likely performance of the dwelling as well as some key opportunities for improving performance through cost-efficient retrofit.”

“New housing standards will increase in 2023 but while this will make housing more resilient to a changing climate, there is more that should be done to future-proof new housing moving forward.”

Dr Trivess Moore is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University. His research focuses on the intersection between technical performance, social impact and policy in relation to how housing, households and the housing sector will transition to a low carbon future.   

Dr Peng Yew Wong, Senior Lecturer School of Property, Construction and Project Management (+6199251419 or peng.wong@rmit.edu.au)    

Topics: housing market, climate change, natural disasters, interest rates, economy

“The Australian housing market is already experiencing its most volatile period since the beginning of this century, primarily due to the emergence of new drivers in the housing market due to the natural and man-made disasters.” 

 “About one in 25 Australian homes are at high risk of becoming effectively uninsurable by 2030, according to a new Climate Council report based on analysis by a climate risk assessment group (ABC, 2022).” 

“With the insurance companies already imposing higher insurance premium (or not insuring at all) and the banks getting more reluctant to lend on flood-prone or cyclone-prone locations, it is reasonable to conclude that flood-prone properties will be facing significant downward pressure due to rising sea level and as such, to under-perform other residential property types into the future.”

Dr Peng Yew Wong is a senior lecturer in the School of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University. His key research efforts centre on exploring the key determinants in the Australian and global residential and commercial property markets.   

Interviews: 

Dr Trivess Moore, 0408 318 182 or trivess.moore@rmit.edu.au  

Dr Peng Yew Wong, +61 9925 1419 or peng.wong@rmit.edu.au

General media enquiries: RMIT Communications, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au