Extreme heat in NSW rentals: Why Bank Australia is backing Sweltering Cities

Western Sydney suburbs such as Blacktown, Parramatta or Liverpool have high heat-health risk, according to Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment.

Temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees. And many of the people who live there have almost no way to escape it.

Older housing. No insulation. Lack of cooling. A tight rental market that leaves tenants with little power to ask for changes.

Heat-related illness is a real and serious risk across Australia, and for some people, it can be fatal.

Better Renting's 'Too Hot to Be Home' report found that alongside skyrocketing energy bills, many renters live in older brick or concrete buildings with black roofs, limited greenery, and little ventilation.

It can often be hotter inside than out.

This is the problem our impact partner Sweltering Cities has spent years working on.

Who is Sweltering Cities?

Sweltering Cities is Australia's national advocacy organisation working at the intersection of extreme heat, climate justice, and housing.

Emma Bacon, Executive Director of Sweltering Cities explains:

“Our survey data showed that people are leaving their homes to cool down in shopping centres, skipping meals to manage energy bills, and experiencing significant health impacts during heatwaves.

“We expect 2026 to reveal even more pressure as temperatures continue to rise and energy costs remain high."

Starting in Western Sydney, Sweltering Cities has grown into a national organisation, but their origins are in grassroots community mobilisation:

"Talking to people, running local events, and helping everyday people tell their stories and make their voices heard in policy conversations," explains Emma.

They aim to work specifically with the people who are most affected by rising temperatures and least represented in the rooms where decisions get made.

Bank Australia's impact fund is now backing this work in NSW

Through our impact fund, Bank Australia has committed support to Sweltering Cities' 2026 program in NSW.

Here's what that funding is helping to make happen:

●      A NSW renter sub-report from their 2026 Summer Survey, digging into the specific experiences of renters struggling with high energy costs and heat-related health impacts.

●      At least 10 local community engagement activities involving more than 200 people, focused on Western Sydney and at least one regional city.

●      Community engagement with the NSW government's rental standards consultation, with a target of 1,000 community submissions.

●      Sweltering Cities' flagship national event: Extreme Heat Awareness Day.

●      Social media and outreach materials to help the campaign reach more people.

The NSW government rental standards consultation is a real window for change.

If enough renters and community members make submissions, it creates the kind of evidence base that spurs action by policymakers.

Sweltering Cities is aiming for 1,000 submissions.

The community submission period is now open and runs for five weeks.

What this means to Bank Australia’s customers

“As a customer-owned bank, we use our impact fund to support organisations aligned with customer values,” Jane Kern, Bank Australia’s Head of Impact Management explains.

“Sweltering Cities is mobilising communities nationally to promote climate-safe cities and housing, which supports two of our priority impact areas - climate action, and affordable and accessible housing.

“This partnership enables deep engagement with the community impacts of extreme heat, particularly for renters, and contributes to our commitment to climate justice as part of our climate action strategy.”

What comes next

In early 2027 Sweltering Cities is planning their inaugural National Community Heat Summit in Western Sydney, bringing together a national cohort of community delegates from across the country.

In the meantime, if you're in NSW and want to know more about the consultation period or how to get involved, head to the Sweltering Cities website.

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