Not every rental has a split system, and getting one installed usually isn’t your call to make. Whether you’re getting through a 40-degree Australian summer or a cold snap in a poorly insulated apartment, portable options are often the only realistic solution — and thankfully, they’ve gotten genuinely better and more affordable in the past few years.
Here’s what’s actually worth buying, and what to check before you do.
Cooling: What to Know Before Buying
Portable air conditioners fall into two very different categories, and it matters which one you’re getting:
- True portable air conditioners (refrigerant-based, with an exhaust hose) actively cool the air and need a window or gap to vent hot air outside. These work properly even in serious heat.
- Evaporative “air coolers” use water and a fan to cool air through evaporation. They’re cheaper and use far less power, but work best in dry climates and struggle in humid conditions — less effective in, say, tropical Queensland than in inland areas.
Know which one you’re buying. A lot of disappointment with “portable AC” online comes from people expecting refrigerant-level cooling from an evaporative cooler.
1. Devanti 7000BTU Portable Air Conditioner
A genuine refrigerant-based portable unit — not just a fan with a water tank — suited to rooms around 10–15m².
Why it works for renters: Comes with a window exhaust kit that fits into an open window gap — no permanent installation, no holes. It’s on castor wheels, so it moves between rooms easily, which matters if you’re only using it in the bedroom overnight.
What to check: It needs a nearby window it can vent through, and the exhaust hose does need to sit in that window gap while running — factor that into where you place it.
2. Spector Portable Electric Heater
A compact 1200W heater with oscillation and a smart thermostat, small enough to sit on a desk or under it.
Why it works for renters: Genuinely portable size — useful if you only need to heat the specific room you’re in rather than running a bigger heater all evening. Includes tip-over and overheat protection, which matters in share houses or homes with pets.
3. Radiant Heater (Kmart)
A larger 2200–2400W radiant heater for bigger rooms or open-plan living spaces, using quartz heating tubes rather than a fan.
Why it works for renters: No installation, and radiant heat warms people and objects directly rather than just circulating air — often feels more effective in draughty older rentals where a fan heater’s warm air escapes quickly.
What to check: At 2200–2400W, running this for hours adds up on the power bill — reserve it for the coldest nights rather than as background heating.
A Genuine Renter’s Note on Running Costs
Portable heaters and air conditioners are convenient, but they’re not always cheap to run. As a rough guide:
- Fan heaters and radiant heaters in the 2000W+ range can meaningfully increase your electricity bill if used for hours daily
- Evaporative air coolers use significantly less power than refrigerant-based air conditioners, but cool less effectively in humid conditions
- Using a timer (many of the products above include one) to avoid running overheating/cooling unnecessarily overnight is one of the simplest ways to control the cost
If you’re on a tight budget, it’s often worth using a portable heater/cooler only in the room you’re actually in, with doors closed, rather than trying to condition an entire apartment.
Safety Notes Specific to Rentals
- Never leave a portable heater running unattended or overnight unless it has verified auto shut-off and tip-over protection
- Check your lease for any specific restrictions on heating/cooling appliances — rare, but some older buildings or share house arrangements have circuit limitations worth knowing about before you plug in a high-wattage heater
- Don’t run an extension cord long-term for a heater — plug directly into a wall outlet where possible, since heaters draw significant current
The Bottom Line
You don’t need permission from a landlord to stay comfortable — a portable air conditioner or heater, chosen for your specific room size and climate, solves most of the problem a split system would, without any installation or damage to the property. Start with the room you spend the most time in (usually the bedroom) rather than trying to condition the whole rental at once.