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
On the street and online this library helps the homeless
Alyssa Robinson (No paywall)While Martin Place fell into an uncharacteristic quiet during Sydney’s lockdown, Tuesday nights have provided a cheerful contrast. Week in and week out, people experiencing homelessness know that’s when they can find friendship, a coffee, a bite to eat – and a good read. The Footpath Library has been providing quality books to people experiencing homelessness since 2003. (South Sydney Herald)
https://southsydneyherald.com.au/on-the-street-and-online-this-l…
# NSW, Homelessness.“Politics is a question of power – not simply of ideas”. On Scotland’s proposal for rent controls
(No paywall)Last week, announced as part of the power-sharing arrangement between the Scottish National Party and the Scottish Greens were proposals to introduce rent controls in Scotland. If implemented, this would be the first time rent controls were in place in Britain since the 1970s. Yet this policy didn't drop out of the sky – it was the result of over 7 years of tenant organising spearheaded by Living Rent [Scotland's Tenants' Union]. To discuss what the deal means, how it came about, and what the next steps are GMHA sat down with Living Rent's Gordon Maloney. (Greater Manchester Housing Action)
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent, Campaigns and law reform.Housing markets around the world have seen house prices soar and affordability worsen
Jules Birch Inside Housing (Paywall)News that house prices are rising at their fastest rate since 2004 highlights both the perverse effects of the pandemic and long-term problems with affordability. ... There is evidence of the same pattern emerging in housing markets around the world: annual house price growth across the 38 richest nations has more than doubled during the pandemic to hit 9.4%, according to the OECD. ... The international comparisons above come from an excellent series on global house prices the Financial Times has been running this month, with obvious relevance for what we can sometimes see as our own unique housing crisis.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/comment/housing-markets-around-t…
# International, Housing market, International.You can’t end homelessness with a temporary bed – people deserve lasting homes
Polly Neate (Paywall)When coronavirus took hold last year, thousands of people sleeping rough were helped off the streets under the “Everyone In” campaign, undoubtedly saving lives. Extra funding and extraordinary efforts by the government, councils and charities meant 37,000 people were found a bed – some in hotels or B&Bs, others in hostels.But you can’t end homelessness with a temporary bed ... (The Independent)
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/homelessness-everyone-in-sh…
# International, Federal Government, Homelessness.Wilcannia housing crisis hope, as town battles COVID in overcrowded homes
Jonathon Poulson ABC (No paywall)Wilcannia residents have been given the strongest indication yet that progress will be made to ease chronic overcrowding due to a lack of housing in the Indigenous community. The town has been demanding answers from the NSW government for years about what is being done to improve the living conditions of residents. ... NSW Water, Property and Housing Minister Melinda Pavey announced funding for 20 new houses for Indigenous families across the area, including eight in Broken Hill, five in Wilcannia, five in Walgett and two in Lightning Ridge.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-29/wilcannia-housing-shortag…
# NSW, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, State Government.‘Most risky’ certifiers of NSW apartment buildings in watchdog’s sights
Matt O'Sullivan The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Almost a dozen certifiers considered the “most risky” in NSW will be put under intense scrutiny by the state’s construction watchdog as it attempts to instil public confidence in apartment buildings following the Opal and Mascot towers sagas two years ago. Vowing to “shake the tree”, NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler said the regulator had begun audits of 11 of the “most risky certifiers” linked to 59 building projects suffering the most number of defects in Sydney and centres such as Wollongong, Newcastle and Tweed Heads.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/most-risky-certifiers-of-nsw…
# NSW, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards.London golf courses could provide homes for 300,000 people, study says
Patrick Barkham The Guardian (No paywall)London’s golf courses make up an area larger than the borough of Brent and there is enough space on publicly owned courses to house 300,000 people, according to new research. Nearly half of the capital’s 94 active golf courses are owned by London boroughs or other public bodies, such as the Church Commissioners, and yet serve a tiny fraction of the capital’s 9 million residents. ... According to the study, Britain is home to a quarter of all the golf courses in Europe, with one in 20 found in London, despite the capital making up just 0.65% of the UK’s total land area. ... Enfield council is currently consulting over a controversial local plan which includes the release of green belt for 6,000 homes, including at least 3,000 houses around Crews Hill railway station, which currently contains open fields, garden centres – and a golf course.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/26/london-golf-cou…
# International, Housing market, Planning and development.Population growth, regional connectivity, and city planning — international lessons for Australian practice
Nicole Gurran, Ann Forsyth, Michael Darcy, Glen Searle, Caitlin Buckl and Sarah Zou AHURI (No paywall)This study investigated the potential for Australia’s regional areas to attract and sustain population and economic growth, examining international and Australian models for supporting development beyond capital city centres. The project contributes to the wider AHURI Inquiry into population growth, migration and agglomeration and presents Australian and state governments can support these initiatives through strategies to attract and enable firms and public service to locate and remain in second-tier cities. This research employed an evidence review that was conducted on metropolitan and regional governance and planning, to examine how spatial policy, planning and funding interventions can support economic and population growth. This research endorses the international review that highlights opportunities for smaller centres to succeed by specialising on particular economic strengths or locational advantages, provided they are well connected to a larger city and/or regional network. This research also finds potential to better support regional areas through spatial planning and investment strategies, which recognise their unique place-based identity, fostering key specialist areas for growth while preserving and enhancing natural and cultural amenities and high quality of life.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?pli=1#inbox/WhctKKWxdMZbCnfMMQ…
# Research alert Australia, Planning and development.