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
Walking through spring
Graham Hoyland (No paywall)On the way we pass the village of North Bradbury, where in the sixteenth century squatters cottages were thrown up on common land. ... The squatters cottages had an unusual legal history; if they could be built in a day and have a fire lit and smoke coming out of the chimney by sunset they were legally allowed to stay. ... Some surrounding land was allowed to be enclosed with the cottage, and this was determined by how far the new owner could throw an axe or a shovel from the four corners of the dwelling. (p 49)
https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780008156138/walking-through-s…
# History International, Squatting.COVID Relief Bill
(No paywall)From the United States ... The emergency COVID-19 relief measure enacted in December 2020 included $25 billion in emergency rental assistance and an extension of the federal eviction moratorium through January 31. President Joe Biden on January 20 issued an executive order instructing the CDC to further extend the federal eviction moratorium until at least March 31. While the relief bill provided essential and desperately needed protections for renters, additional resources and protections are needed to address the health and housing needs of America’s lowest-income renters and people experiencing homelessness.
https://nlihc.org/coronavirus-and-housing-homelessness/covid-pac…
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.Even during a pandemic, Biden can’t declare a hold on home evictions
Jacob Sullum (No paywall)Last week, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the Constitution does not give the federal government the power to decree that landlords across the country must house tenants who do not pay their rent. ... The eviction moratorium, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention originally issued in September, was renewed by Congress in December, then extended again by the Biden administration. It is based on a breathtakingly broad reading of the CDC director’s authority to “take such measures” he “deems reasonably necessary” to stop the interstate spread of communicable diseases. (Chicago Suntimes)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/3/4/22313591/evicti…
# Legal significance International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Landlords and agents.‘Sydney remains in his debt’: City mourns loss of ‘visionary’ Jack Mundey
Tim Barlass The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Helen Temple ... who worked with the Historic Houses Trust of which Mundey was chairman, summed up Mundey’s contribution to Sydney. “His fingerprints are all over this city. He really gave his life in service for its conservation.”
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-remains-in-his-debt-c…
# Must read, History NSW, Heritage listings.Rental Crisis Worsens Across Hunter
Lauren Kempe (No paywall)The Hunter’s rental shortage is having an impact on crisis support services across the region. One family is days from being evicted from their property, and still hasn’t found anywhere else to live, despite months of searching. (NBN News)
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2021/03/10/rental-crisis-worsens-acro…
# Video NSW, Rent, Homelessness, Housing market, Regional NSW.‘Uncomfortably hot’: Why Amanda uses a dog cooling mat to sleep
Andrew Taylor The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Almost one-third of Sydney residents leave their homes to cool down during hot weather, while 55 per cent of people do not turn on their airconditioners because of the cost of energy bills. ... Excessive indoor temperatures is not among the seven minimum requirements for a rental property required by NSW law. A spokeswoman for the Department of Customer Service said a tenant could ask the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a “determination” if they believe a property is unfit for habitation due to excessive heat.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/uncomfortably-hot-why-amanda…
# Hot topic, Legal significance NSW, Rent, Utilities water energy internet, Minimum habitability standards, Personal stories.Easy credit will fan the flames of housing boom, critics warn
Clancy Yeates The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Consumer groups and some leading economists have warned a government plan to axe responsible lending rules could add fuel to the housing boom by easing credit while prices are already surging due to ultra-low interest rates.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/easy-credit-…
# Australia, Federal Government, Housing market.Council takes legal action against three housing associations over damp issues at London estate
Nathaniel Barker Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Lambeth Council has began proceedings against Notting Hill Genesis (NHG), Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) and Optivo following a lengthy campaign by the St Martin’s Estate Tenants and Residents Association (TRA). At least 23 blocks on the Tulse Hill estate containing more than 600 flats are affected, according to the TRA. Enforcement action will be taken by the council under the Housing Act 2004. ... A report by the council ... reported widespread prevalence of damp and mould within dwellings across the estate, with affected areas including, living rooms, toilets, bedrooms, bathrooms and areas around windows and balconies.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/council-takes-legal-ac…
# Hot topic International, Public and community housing, Local Government, Mould.