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
Perverse incentives leave young Australians locked out of community housing, study finds
Cait Kelly The Guardian (No paywall)Thousands of young people are missing out on a safe place to live each year because community housing providers get more rent from older adults, research has revealed. The lead author of the University of New South Wales research, Dr Ryan van den Nouwelant, said providers stood to lose 46% of the possible rental income if they chose a young person over an adult on a higher social security payment. Providers received $100 extra each week for housing someone on the aged pension compared with someone on youth allowance, and $22 more for housing a 22-year-old on the disability support pension than a 20-year-old on the same payment, he said.
https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardi…
# Must read Australia, Public and community housing, Rent, Starting a tenancy.More Than 1 in 5 Renters Use Their Entire Paycheck to Pay Rent: Survey
Chase Smith The Epoch Times (No paywall)More than one in five U.S. renters—22 percent—use all of their regular income to pay for rent, according to a recent survey commissioned by real estate brokerage firm Redfin. The survey, conducted in September by Ipsos among 1,802 U.S. residents aged 18 to 65, found that 19 percent of renters reported working a job they disliked to afford rent, while 20 percent said they had taken on a second job to pay for housing. Fourteen percent of renters said they relied on cash gifts from family to pay rent. About 13 percent reported withdrawing money from retirement funds early to cover housing costs, while 12 percent said they had reduced contributions to their retirement savings, prioritizing immediate expenses over long-term financial security.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/more-than-1-in-5-renters-use-th…
# Must read, Hot topic International, .Using the notwithstanding clause to evict the homeless shows the limits of municipal politics
Steve Lorteau & Oliver Chan The Conversation (No paywall)In what has become a mainstay in recent Canadian politics, the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is back in the news. In the last few weeks, several mayors have asked the Ontario government to use the notwithstanding clause to clear homeless encampments. But invoking the clause would override the homeless population’s rights to “life, liberty, and security” of the person, and potentially other rights. Proponents of the idea argue the eviction plans would allow residents to regain access to parks currently occupied by the encampments.
https://theconversation.com/using-the-notwithstanding-clause-to-…
# Must read International, Eviction, Security and safety.Auckland landlord fined over $4000 after renting out flat with mould, plants growing into unit
Nazahryth Bernard NZ Herald (No paywall)A landlord has been fined after renting out an Auckland flat with heavy mould and algae, outside plants growing into the building, and a constantly dripping shower that led to sleep deprivation. Leng Minn Kit was ordered to pay more than $4000 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for multiple breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 after failing to maintain his Beach Haven rental or comply with an improvement notice. Kit’s North Shore property, a converted garage rented to one tenant for more than 15 years, was found to have heavy black mould and algae, swollen skirting boards, and deteriorating window frames during a November 2022 visit by MBIE’s tenancy compliance and investigations team.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-landlord-fined-over-4000-…
# Must read International, Rent.Rent increases are forcing some Florida seniors to move
CBS News (No paywall)A new survey from Retirement Living, which used U.S. Census data, shows more than 35% of Florida seniors aged 65 and older reported "feeling pressured" to move in the past six months due to rent increases.
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/video/rent-increases-are-forcing-s…
# Hot topic, Video International, .Dispute over unpaid rent turns deadly in the Bronx, police say
CBS News (No paywall)Police sources say officers found a man with severe trauma to the body at an apartment on the Throgs Neck Expressway service road. He was taken to the hospital and later died. A person is in custody but has not yet been charged. CBS News New York's Jennifer Bisram reports.
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/video/dispute-over-unpaid-rent-t…
# Video International, Rent, Security and safety.YALO’s Transforming Affordable Housing in Africa with Flexible Rental Solutions
Tatiana Daushvili Startup Wise Guys (No paywall)In a region where housing affordability is a significant concern, YALO emerges as a revolutionary force, aiming to provide every employed African with the opportunity to live in a decent home of their choice. By offering the flexibility and convenience of monthly rental payments, YALO is set to make a profound impact on the African rental market. YALO‘s inception is rooted in the personal experiences of one of its co-founders, Dele Ijaiya-Oladipo, after spending over a decade in the United Kingdom as an investment banker, he returned to Nigeria only to face the harsh reality of the Nigerian rental market, which requires two years’ rent upfront.
https://startupwiseguys.com/news/yalos-transforming-affordable-h…
# Must read International, Rent.The Cost of Living in Dubai
Giorgia Sgueglia Middle East Briefing (No paywall)Dubai has long established itself as a key global hub for commerce, investment, and innovation. As the city continues to grow and modernize, the cost of living has evolved alongside its economic transformation. While the cost of living in Dubai has seen a slight rise since 2023, it remains significantly more affordable than other leading financial centers such as Hong Kong and Singapore. This affordability, combined with Dubai’s strategic position in global trade and its robust business environment, continues to make it an attractive destination for businesses and investors. In the first half of 2024, Dubai experienced a notable increase in living expenses, driven by factors such as higher housing costs, inflationary pressures, and growing demand for goods and services.
https://www.middleeastbriefing.com/news/living-cost-in-dubai/
# International, .