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
Why more people than ever are living alone – and what this means for the environment
Tullia Jack and others The Conversation (No paywall)Globally, households are shrinking – more and more people are living alone. In 2016, almost two thirds of all households in the EU were composed of one or two people, with shrinking households also prevalent around the world. As countries move up the human development index, households are expected to continue to shrink.
https://theconversation.com/why-more-people-than-ever-are-living…
# International, Utilities water energy internet, Fixtures - lights, aircon etc, Planning and development.Six months to pay off rental arrears, but advocates warn a 'wave' of homelessness is fast approaching
Amelia Bernasconi , Kristy Reading and Patrick Bell ABC (No paywall)Tenants will be given a six-month transition period to pay off balances accrued during the pandemic and set up payment plans with landlords. But one regional NSW housing advocate has cast doubt on whether the new support goes far enough.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-04/six-months-for-nsw-tenant…
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Regional NSW.What Happens When 10 Million Tenants Can’t Make Rent?
Gianpaolo Baiocchi and H. Jacob Carlson The New York Times (No paywall)From the United States ... What happens when 10 million tenants can’t make rent? Dire conditions for vulnerable tenants also mean financial distress for landlords. Things have been particularly difficult for “mom and pop” landlords, particularly those who operate in the affordable market. In an October survey of smaller landlords, 30 percent reported increased pressure to sell their property, due to fallout from the pandemic. Yet investors looking to profit from the fallout have referred to this hardship as the “greatest buying opportunity of the century.” They are already preparing to acquire these distressed properties, sitting on more than $300 billion in “dry powder” for this purpose.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/opinion/affordable-housing-fe…
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Public and community housing, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Landlords and agents.Rental crisis
(No paywall)Bidding wars are breaking out over rental properties; leaving the most vulnerable out on the streets.
# Hot topic, Video NSW, Rent, Affordable housing, Homelessness, Regional NSW.The first landlord has been charged in a 'sex for rent case'
Jennifer Savin (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Close to four years ago, Cosmopolitan reported on the practice of predatory 'landlords' offering vulnerable women free (or heavily discounted) accommodation in exchange for sexual favours. Now, in a landmark new case, the first ever landlord has been charged in a 'sex for rent'-based trial. (Cosmopolitan)
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a35708519/landlord-charg…
# International, Rent, Landlords and agents, Women.Landcom pays $100m more than seller’s evaluation for site near Sydney
Matt O'Sullivan The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The NSW government’s property development arm agreed to pay $258 million for an 873-hectare block in Sydney’s hinterland last year, $102 million more than the seller’s valuer had estimated it was worth just 12 months earlier.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/landcom-pays-100m-more-than-…
# NSW, Planning and development, State Government.Homeless people stuck in ‘unsuitable, sometimes dangerous’ accommodation
Jewel Topsfield The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The Victorian government will consider a controversial proposal that would compel developers to include social housing in all new major housing developments. A parliamentary inquiry into the state’s homelessness crisis warned homeless people are stuck indefinitely in sometimes dangerous motels, rooming houses and caravan parks due to a lack of long-term housing.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/homeless-people-stuck-i…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Homelessness.Dog walkers and subsidised rent: Inside Qld’s first build-to-rent tower
Matt Dennien The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Parking spaces will be offered separately to apartments and tenants will be able to book private areas or dog walkers through an app in one of the inner-Brisbane apartment towers to take shape under Queensland’s fledgling build-to-rent scheme.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/dog-walkers-and-subsi…
# Australia, Rent, Affordable housing, Housing market.