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.
Our main email newsletter, Tenant News is sent once every two months. You can subscribe or update your subscription preferences for any of our email newsletters here.
See notes about the Digest and a list of other contributors here. Many thanks to those contributors for sharing links with us.
We love sharing the news and hope you find it informative! We're very happy to deliver it for free, but if you find it valuable, can you help cover the extra costs incurred by making a donation?
Archive
ACT government's stamp duty reprieve extended for buyers purchasing off-the-plan properties up to $600,000
Penny Travers and Kate Midena ABC (No paywall)The ACT government has extended its stamp duty scheme by removing stamp duty from off-the-plan property purchases up to $600,000. It's a step intended to ease the pressure for those looking to buy in the territory's soaring market, which saw prices skyrocket during the pandemic.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-15/stamp-duty-extended-off-t…
# Australia, Strata, Housing market, State Government, Tax.NT government documents reveal long-awaited Darwin public housing project in jeopardy
Jesse Thompson ABC (No paywall)The future of a long-awaited government housing project intended to ease a chronic housing shortfall in the Northern Territory is in question, internal documents have revealed. The NT government had expected the first stage of the development in Darwin's inner suburbs to be complete by last May, adding 30 two-bedroom units to the burdened urban public housing sector. However, the building in The Narrows is still empty. The delay has come while the public housing waitlist has soared to more than 5,700 applicants, including transfers, and advocates have called on the government to resolve the issues as soon as possible. "We’ve got 30 brand new units over there at the moment sitting empty while we’ve got a big increase in women fleeing domestic violence and [needing] long-term housing," Peter McMillan from NT Shelter said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-15/nt-delayed-darwin-public-…
# Australia, Domestic violence, Public and community housing, Housing market, State Government, Women.Mudgeeraba Caravan Park goes from 'ghetto' to pensioners' paradise
Tom Forbes, Nicole Dyer and Kirsten Webster ABC (No paywall)Viv Lymbery says he's experienced good times and bad times over the 18 years he has spent living inside his bus at the Mudgeeraba Holiday Park. The 70-year-old said he was "once king by a bloke", but he had been "predominantly" happy living in the Gold Coast hinterland park, which has long had a bad reputation with frequent police visits and ongoing social problems. ... But that is now changing according to Derek Nicholson who, along with his business partner, bought the Mudgeeraba Holiday Park in July 2021 and rebranded it The Rainforest Rental Village. He said, although the park had previously been described as a "ghetto" and a "living hell", its reputation is now steadily being turned around.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-15/mudgeeraba-caravan-park-r…
# Australia, Land lease communities, Housing affordability, Older people.Affordable housing in the US is increasingly scarce, making renters ask: Where do we go?
Celine-Marie Pascale The Conversation (No paywall)The United States is facing an expanding gap between how much workers earn and how much they have to pay for housing. Workers have faced stagnant wages for the past 40 years. Yet the cost of rent has steadily increased during that time, with sharp increases of 14% to 40% over the past two years. Now, more than ever, workers are feeling the stress of the affordable housing crisis.
https://theconversation.com/affordable-housing-in-the-us-is-incr…
# International, Rent, Affordable housing, Housing affordability, Housing market.Consultation on the introduction of tenant satisfaction measures
(No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Here's the National Housing Federation submission in response to the Regulator of Social Housing.
# International, Public and community housing.‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme launches in government bid to house refugees
James Wilmore Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... The website went live yesterday to allow those wanting to take in refugees from Ukraine to register their interest. However it is still not clear when people will be able to accommodate those escaping the conflict. The government, which has been criticised for its slow response to the growing refugee crisis, has said there is “no limit” on the number of Ukrainians it expects to help under the scheme. According to the United Nations, more than 2.8 million people have fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion. You can also read the same story on the BBC at: [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60741942]
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/homes-for-ukraine-sche…
# International, Homelessness, International.Mortgage stress set to rise with interest rates and recent home buyers will be hit hardest
Michael Janda ABC (No paywall)Interest rates are already rising in many countries and are almost certain to rise in Australia sometime this year. But how prepared are heavily indebted households, especially those who just paid top dollar for a home in the past couple of years?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-16/mortgage-stress-set-to-ri…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.Mallee council, business take action on housing crisis by building houmes themselves
Sophie Landau and Petria Ladgrove ABC (No paywall)A council in South Australia's Mallee region is planning to build and sell affordable homes in an unusual and hands-on approach to combatting the region's housing crisis. The Karoonda East Murray Council could build up to three homes on council-owned blocks at Ponderosa Estate, which it hopes will encourage skilled workers and families to move to the area. Mayor Caroline Phillips said a lack of available, affordable housing to buy or rent had slowed the town's economic growth.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-16/mallee-council-to-build-a…
# Australia, Affordable housing, Local Government.