Clayton's housing, then and now
Monash next door
Monash University opened at Clayton in 1961. Wikipedia says the market gardens disappeared fast in the 1960s as housing and industry moved in.
Timber houses, built in stages
Monash Council's heritage history says up to 40% of new houses before the mid 1950s were owner-built, many in timber because it needed fewer specialised trades. Clayton was substantially built up by 1968.
Townhouses lead now
At the 2021 Census, 42.5% of occupied homes were townhouses, semi-detached or row houses, 35.4% separate houses and 21.7% flats or apartments. 1,366 private dwellings were empty on census night.
City of Monash, 3168
Clayton was part of the City of Oakleigh before it joined the City of Monash.
If you rent out a Clayton property
Cooling. From 1 March 2027, a new rental agreement, or one rolling onto month-to-month, needs an energy efficient fixed cooler in the main living area. For a non-ducted unit that means a cooling rating of 3 stars or above. Every Victorian rental needs cooling from 1 July 2030.
Heating. When the main living area heater permanently fails from 1 March 2027, its replacement has to be electric: a non-ducted unit with a heating rating of 2 stars or above, or a ducted system with a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor of 3.2 or more. A working gas heater can stay.
One job for both. An efficient reverse cycle split that meets both ratings satisfies the two standards. Our rental heating guide explains the exemptions, and our VEU guide covers discounts through accredited providers.
Old timber houses and new townhouses
In an older weatherboard, ask about insulation before sizing. ActronAir says a well insulated home likely won't need as much capacity as a poorly insulated one, so insulating the ceiling first can mean a smaller unit.
A two-storey townhouse may have only one sensible spot for an outdoor unit. A multi-split runs several indoor units from it, and Rinnai says multi-split suits 2 to 5 rooms that each need their own control.
What we'd do
What we'd do as a Clayton landlord
Don't wait for 2027 or a July breakdown. Put an efficient reverse cycle split in the main living area now, chosen to meet both the 2 star heating and 3 star cooling ratings, and keep the paperwork that shows it. That one job covers both rules.
