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
Rental affordability still stretched, but worst is over
Poppy Johnston South Coast Register (No paywall)After a tough few years of steep rent hikes and stiff competition to secure a property, renters are seeing glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel. The days of fast-growing asking rents are fading and prices may even fall in some cities in 2025, in the view of Market Economics managing director Stephen Koukoulas. The return to more normal migration patterns after the pandemic disruption combined with improving listings and housing supply should keep a lid on market rents, the economist said.
https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/8858710/rental-affor…
# Hot topic NSW, Rent.Fairness for renters in beach car parking permit schemes
NSW Government ()Renters would get the same rights to beach parking permits in council areas that run two-tiered schemes favouring homeowners, under reforms proposed by the NSW Government.
Mosman and Northern Beaches councils issue free parking at local beaches to ratepayers – those people who own their own property – but charge people who rent for the same permit to park at the beach.
For example, on the Northern Beaches, homeowners are issued two free, annual parking permits to 40 local beaches whereas renters need to apply and pay $250 for a parking sticker.
Homeowners are also allowed to purchase two more permits for a total of four per household - twice as many as a rented household can access.
https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/fairness-for-renters…
# Must read NSW, Rent.Couple’s horror after leasing dream home
Alexandra Feiam Yahoo News (No paywall)When a NSW family decided to lease out their home for a few months while they got back on track financially, they ensured the tenants ticked all the right boxes. David* and Hannah* worked tirelessly to purchase their dream home in regional NSW during the pandemic and had their plans all sorted. It was a place that would raise a family; its four walls were a witness to their wedding and kept them safe after the birth of their first child. The beloved home was supposed to flourish alongside the blossoming family as it grew over the years.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/couple-horror-leasing-dream-ho…
# Hot topic NSW, Rent.Why improving social housing could be remarkably simple (and affordable)
Nicky Shaw and Simon Williams The Conversation (No paywall)Tragedies in social housing, such as the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and the death of toddler Awaab Ishak due to damp living conditions in 2020, remain shocking. As a coroner commented at the time, “How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old child die as a result of exposure to mould?” Since then developments like Awaab’s Law have increased landlords’ accountability for delivering decent homes. However, improvements to housing stock may appear to be happening at a snail’s pace, as shown by the tower block fire in Dagenham, east London, in 2024
https://theconversation.com/why-improving-social-housing-could-b…
# Must read International, Public and community housing, Rent, Repairs, Security and safety.MPs back one-month cap on advance rent payments
Jennifer McKiernan BBC (No paywall)MPs have voted for a new, one-month cap on advance rent payments in England as the Renters' Rights Bill edges closer to becoming law. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed the addition of a clause to stop landlords making upfront charges in the Commons on Tuesday. Landlord groups have warned the move could leave property owners open to risk if tenants have no other way of proving their ability to pay rent on an ongoing basis. And Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn warned some tenants were being evicted before the package of protections in the Bill, which includes a ban on "no-fault" evictions, can come into effect as expected this summer.
# Must read International, Rent.Rents in Northern Ireland soared by 9% in 2024 to hit monthly average of £942
Gary McDonald Irish News (No paywall)The north’s housing market ended 2024 on a hugely positive note, with 5,700 newly agreed sales in the final quarter, an 11% rise on the previous year, an industry report shows. But PropertyPal’s latest quarterly barometer also reveals that renters in Northern Ireland continue to face eye-watering increases, with annual price growth of 9% in 2024, pushing the average monthly rent to a record-breaking £942 on average. The report said buyer confidence soared during October, November and December, supported by a 12% increase in newly listed properties for sale, with 4,527 homes added to the market during the quarter, which helped meet growing demand and contributed to heightened market activity.
https://www.irishnews.com/news/business/rents-in-north-soared-by…
# International, Rent.B.C.‘s short-term rental registry ushers in next phase of crackdown
CTV News (No paywall)B.C.‘s crackdown on short-term rentals has entered what the housing minister describes as “phase two,” which requires all operators to register with the province.
England’s renters are about to gain more rights, but until then landlords may exploit weak regulation even more cruelly
Nick Bano The Guardian (No paywall)Last month, I was working with a young homeless family on England’s south coast. The local council had found them a privately rented flat with an agreed rent, and provided a “landlord incentive” payment of £1,500. But, when the council emailed the landlord to confirm the arrangements, he replied to say that he was increasing the rent by £100 a month because “the market is moving in that direction”. The property was mortgage-free, so the price hike could not be blamed on rising costs. This is not uncommon: Zoopla estimates that 70% of landlords have either no debt or a small mortgage.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/17/england-re…
# Must read International, Rent.