The Housing Industry Association is calling for a national plan to upgrade Australia’s ageing homes, arguing resilience depends on lifting the standards of existing dwellings.

Australia’s housing industry is standing at a crossroads. While new homes continue to meet ever-higher standards of safety and efficiency, millions of older dwellings are weathering storms of another kind. 

These houses, built decades before climate adaptation was part of the conversation, now face increasing threats from cyclones, floods, bushfires and hail.

Last week, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) appeared before the Senate Inquiry into the Climate Risk Assessment to deliver a pointed message: the federal government must take the lead on a coordinated national plan to strengthen the country’s homes against climate change.

One framework, not many

HIA’s chief executive of industry and policy Simon Croft argues that piecemeal approaches at a state level are no longer enough. “Cyclones, floods, bushfires and hail storms are not new threats, but the way we prepare for them must change,” he says.

Australia currently operates under a patchwork of rules and regulations, with states and territories applying different standards and criteria. For Croft, this fragmented system leaves both homeowners and the industry exposed. “A patchwork of policies won’t cut it. We need one clear, national framework to lift resilience and keep housing affordable.”

Such a framework, he explains, would allow for consistent standards while also reducing costs created by overlapping regulations. For homeowners, it would mean clarity on what’s required, what’s recommended, and how their properties stack up.

The case for a national risk-rating tool

Central to HIA’s submission is a call for the creation of a single, independently verified national risk-rating tool. This tool would measure the exposure of individual homes and communities to natural hazards, guiding planning decisions, informing insurers and equipping homeowners with clear data to support upgrades.

“In our submission, HIA recommends the creation of a single, independently verified national risk-rating tool to guide planning decisions, inform insurers and give homeowners the information they need to strengthen their properties,” Croft says.

It’s a simple but powerful idea. If Australians knew their home’s risk profile in the same way they understand their credit score or energy rating, they could take targeted action. Insurers could price policies more fairly, and governments could direct resources where they are most urgently needed.

Borrowing from workplace safety

Another cornerstone of HIA’s argument is the adoption of a ‘Hierarchy of Control’ model. Borrowed from workplace safety principles, this system ranks hazard control measures from the most effective to the least. By applying the model to housing, the strongest protections, like structural reinforcements, would be prioritised over less impactful measures.

It represents a shift in thinking from reactionary responses to long-term planning, ensuring that investments in housing upgrades deliver the maximum possible benefit.

The ticking clock of older homes

While new housing developments already meet high and continually improving standards, HIA’s focus is firmly on the country’s ageing housing stock. Between eight and 10 million dwellings fall into this category, representing the nation’s greatest vulnerability.

“The greatest opportunity in mitigating climate change lies in upgrading Australia’s existing housing stock,” Croft emphasises. “The real challenge is the millions of older homes that need focused upgrades to withstand future events.”

From retrofitting roofs to withstand cyclone winds to improving insulation against extreme heat, the upgrades required vary widely. What unites them is urgency. Without a clear national program, these homes will remain dangerously exposed, carrying enormous social and financial costs each time disaster strikes.

A call for leadership

The HIA is calling on the federal government to set a timetable, allocate resources and work with states, territories and industry on a unified program. As Croft puts it, “Taking a steady, coordinated approach now will strengthen our homes and communities and reduce the cost and disruption of future natural disasters.”

The argument is as much about economics as it is about resilience. Investing in upgrades today reduces the staggering repair bills, insurance premiums and community dislocation that follow every major disaster. It’s a call for leadership, planning and foresight.

For Australia’s housing industry, the message from HIA is clear: the nation cannot build its way out of climate risk. To face the future, it must look to the homes already standing.

For further information please contact:
Simon Croft, Chief Executive Industry & Policy 0417 032 160
Joe Shanahan, Manager Communications & Media 0410 449 556