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
The Sydney suburbs where it’s cheaper to buy than rent
Kate Burke Domain (Paywall)Record low interest rates and sluggish property price growth have made mortgage repayments more affordable than rent across Sydney suburbs, new analysis shows.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/the-suburbs-where-its-weekly-mort…
# NSW, Rent, Home ownership, Housing market.COVID stamp duty holiday reveals big problems in the housing market
Michael Ball The Conversation (No paywall)The UK housing market has been affected by the pandemic, but in ways that were not anticipated at the outset. Initially, forecasters thought that the sharp reduction in economic activity could lead to a housing market crash. That didn’t happen. Parts of the market have instead been buoyant while others languish. Forecasting is tricky, but the result of the government’s temporary stamp duty cut raises some perennial issues about market efficiency and fairness.
https://theconversation.com/covid-stamp-duty-holiday-reveals-big…
# International, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market, Tax.Developers forced to fix defects after commissioner wields new powers
Matt O'Sullivan The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Developers have been slapped with orders to fix serious defects in apartment buildings and townhouses, as the NSW Building Commissioner signals he will not hesitate using his strongest powers to stamp out shoddy work in the construction industry. Almost six months after his powers came into force, commissioner David Chandler has issued prohibition orders in the past week to developers of four buildings in Sydney and Forster, north of Newcastle, stopping them gaining occupation certificates until defects have been fixed.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/developers-forced-to-fix-def…
# NSW, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards.At least half a million renters in COVID-19 arrears, charities say
Dominic Brady Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kiongdom ... Chancellor Rishi Sunak must provide a financial package in the Spring Budget to help private renters impacted by the pandemic, a coalition of charities and membership groups has said. The groups warned that at least half a million renters are in arrears due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a number facing the prospect of homelessness without state support.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/at-least-half-a-millio…
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Homelessness.Minister accuses City of Sydney of holding up social housing
Alexandra Smith The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The NSW government says a key plank of its COVID-19 economic response is being delayed because the City of Sydney is dragging its heels in approving critical social housing developments. ... A government briefing note prepared for Ms Pavey’s office says there are more than 1000 social housing dwellings awaiting approval from the council, including Waterloo South (914), Elizabeth Street in Redfern (64) and Cowper Street, Glebe (35).
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/minister-accuses-city-of-syd…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, Estate renewal, Housing affordability, State Government.‘The Value of Sustainable Urbanization’ for Australian cities
AHURI Brief AHURI (No paywall)The UN-Habitat program released the ‘World Cities Report 2020 - The Value of Sustainable Urbanization’ in early November 2020. The stated aim of the UN-Habitat is ‘to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities’ and to promote ‘urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty.’ Read on ...
https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/ahuri-briefs/the-value-of-sust…
# Australia, Affordable housing, International, Planning and development.Rent debt crisis 'could lead to homelessness'
Simon Read BBC (No paywall)Half a million renters could lose their home without financial help, debt charities, lenders and landlords have warned. These renters are under pressure from debt they've built up since the pandemic.
# International, Eviction, Coronavirus COVID-19.Lendlease strikes $460m deal with Aware Super for retirement living
Carolyn Cummins The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Lendlease has extended its partnership with the country’s largest super fund in a deal to sell a 25 per cent stake in the retirement living business, estimated to be worth about $460 million. Aware Super will now have a stake in 75 retirement villages that are home to more than 16,000 residents across the country.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/lendlease-strikes-460m…
# Australia, Housing market, International, Older people.