Housing News Digest
Housing News Digest
The Tenants' Union Housing News Digest compiles our pick of items from all the latest tenancy and housing media, sent once per week, on Thursdays.
Below is the Digest archive from November 2020 onwards. From time to time you will find additional items in the archive that did not make it into the weekly Digest email. Earlier archives are here, where you can also find additional digests by other organisations.
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Archive
Governor Inslee signs bill requiring 'just cause' eviction
(Paywall)From the United States ... Landlords will be required to provide a valid reason for ending certain leases with tenants, under a measure signed into law Monday by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Previously, landlords were allowed to end month-to-month leases with 20 days’ notice, without providing a reason. Under the measure that passed the Legislature last month, landlords can now end leases for reasons like failure to pay rent, unlawful activity and nuisance issues, as well as cases in which a landlord intends to sell or move into a rental. Landlords can still end a tenancy at the end of an initial lease without cause if the initial rental term is between six months and one year and the tenant is given 60 days written notice. Under the new law, landlords who remove tenants in violation of the rules may be subject to a penalty of up to three months’ rent plus attorney fees and costs. (The Spokesman-Review)
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/may/10/gov-inslee-signs-b…
# International, Eviction, Rent, Housing market, No-grounds evictions.Federal Budget 2021: Renters lose out in huge government cash splash
Stuart Marsh 9 News (No paywall)Australian tenants struggling to make rent were the hidden losers of last night's Federal Budget, as the Morrison government's cash splash prioritised home ownership over affordable housing. Despite extending three key initiatives to encourage first home buyers to enter the property market, there was little cash spent on easing conditions for renters or providing more affordable housing.
https://amp.9news.com.au/article/bc3b5343-ae3a-466a-8826-1c8f09e…
# Australia, Rent, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing market.Treasury says slower population growth to ease prices as homebuilder and first-home buyer aid fires up market
Jessica Sier The Guardian (No paywall)Extensions to the homebuilder program and subsidies for first home buyers announced in Tuesday’s budget will tip more money into Australia’s already red hot property market. But the government says slowing population growth and the wind down of government subsidised construction activity will help cool things down in the longer term.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/12/budget-20…
# Australia, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market.Aged care: federal budget promises $17.7bn to overhaul Australia’s scandal-plagued system
Sarah Martin The Guardian (No paywall)A $17.7bn package to reform the scandal-plagued aged care system aims to clear the home care waiting list within two years, mandate minimum care time in residential aged care homes, and boost the aged care workforce.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/11/aged-care…
# Australia, Federal Government, Housing market, Older people.What do you do when you're priced out of property?
Patrick Wright ABC (No paywall)Thanks to strong demand from buyers, and record low interest rates, house prices in the capitals are up 6.4 per cent for the year while regional houses are up 13 per cent. It's great news for home owners, but for those on the sidelines, the recent price jumps are making ownership seem even more unattainable. So, what can you do if you're simply priced out? And what are the challenges for people facing a lifetime of renting? (ABC Everyday)
https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/what-to-do-when-you-are-priced-o…
# Australia, Rent, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market.Australia’s housing crisis: it’s one of the most unaffordable in the world, so how is the Coalition going to fix it?
Jessica Sier The Guardian (No paywall)With many Australians locked out of the housing market or staring down the barrel of a 40-year, million-dollar-plus mortgage, the federal government has proposed a raft of policies aimed at addressing housing affordability in Tuesday’s federal budget. But whether they will help bring ownership within reach of more people is unclear, especially since housing supply and zoning powers lie with the state governments. Also, check out another story in 'The Guardian' at: [https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/10/federal-budget-2021-what-to-expect-aged-care-women-infrastructure].
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/11/australia…
# Australia, Federal Government, Home ownership, Homelessness, Housing affordability, Housing market, Tax.What measures can be used to keep rents in check?
(No paywall)Rents are rising in all major European cities. Politicians are trying to counteract this in order to keep housing affordable. Which regulations are promising? (International Union of Tenants News) This article is in German.
https://www.iut.nu/news-events/what-measures-can-be-used-to-keep…
# Must read International, Rent, Housing affordability, Housing market, International.Tiny homes idea for Byron Bay rail corridor to address housing crisis
Bruce MacKenzie ABC (No paywall)Byron Shire Council is exploring the possibility of putting hundreds of temporary tiny homes in the shire's rail corridor. The Housing for Locals project is part of a strategy proposed by Acting Mayor Michael Lyon.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-11/byron-rail-housing-plan-t…
# NSW, Affordable housing, Housing affordability, Housing market, Regional NSW, State Government, Women.