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
Church of England appoints first bishop for housing
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)In the Unuited Kingdom, Bishop of Loughborough. Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani will take up the new Bishop of Housing role, which will see her lead the church’s efforts in tackling housing inequality. ... Her appointment comes ahead of next month’s publication of the findings of a two-year commission, set up by the Archbishop of Canterbury, examining the role of the church in tackling housing inequality. ... One aim will be to ensure the Church of England uses its own land well to help resolve the housing crisis wherever possible.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/church-of-england-appo…
# Must read International, Affordable housing, Housing market, Human rights.The benefits of collaboration between the Church and housing associations
Charlie Arbuthnot and Matthew Corbett Inside Housing (Paywall)Housing associations and churches act as anchor organisations in many of the deprived communities they serve. So why don’t we do more together? That was the question posed by L&Q and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community, when they met. The quick answer was ... we could do a whole lot more. Read on ...
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insight/the-benefits-of-…
# International, Public and community housing, Affordable housing, Housing market, Human rights.Western Sydney residents furious about two towers set to exceed approved height limit
Lydia Fend ABC (No paywall)Western Sydney residents are furious plans to increase the height of a major residential development have been given the green light, despite concerns about overdevelopment and congestion. The concept plan for two 15-storey apartment buildings at Wentworth Point means they will be almost double in height compared to neighbouring buildings, which reach a limit of nine storeys.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-22/western-sydney-residents-…
# NSW, Local Government, Planning and development.'The council needs to step up': McGowan demands Fremantle tent city 'end now'
Peter de Kruijff The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has accused the Fremantle council of prolonging a homeless camp in the port city while calling for 'tent city' to "end now".
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/the-council-ne…
# Australia, Homelessness, Local Government.Western Australian government seizes control of Fremantle's tent city
The Guardian (No paywall)Western Australia’s government has formally seized control of Fremantle’s tent city, ramping up the blame game over the troubled homeless camp. The treasurer and lands minister, Ben Wyatt, has signed a revocation order under the Lands Administration Act removing the City of Fremantle as the management body for Pioneer Park. Responsibility for the park has been granted to the heritage minister, David Templeman, as the government moves to shut down the camp. ... WA’s Department of Communities confirmed it had offered rough sleepers emergency accommodation in response to “serious and growing public safety issues”. ... House the Homeless WA spokesman Jesse Noakes said there had been a systemic failure by the McGowan government to address the state’s housing crisis. “One week’s accommodation is not a solution to homelessness,” he said. “It is a road to nowhere.”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/23/western-a…
# Australia, Homelessness.The policy risk emerging from the pandemic property price boom
Jennifer Duke The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Louis Christopher is flabbergasted at the surge he has seen in the property market. “It’s surreal,” he says. “Who would have thought the housing market would be up for the year?” ... Housing affordability is tipped to become a hot button issue over the next 12 months. The real wild card at the moment is whether “mum and dad” property investors will return to the market. If they do, it could prompt revived debate about negative gearing and capital gains tax incentives, which [Industry Super Australia chief economist Stephen] Anthony says could be dealt with as part of a reform of housing market incentives. Read on ...
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-policy-risk-emerging…
# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.Rent arrears:Covid-19 has hit tenants hard with one in seven London renters now behind on payments
Ruth Boomfield (No paywall)From the United Kingdom, the Government is coming under increasing pressure to step in to assist London’s renters after figures showed that more than one in seven tenants in the capital have fallen behind on rent during the pandemic. (Home & Property)
https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/property-news/renting/rent-ar…
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.'I wrapped myself in a damp towel': Sydneysiders risk health inside hot homes
Andrew Taylor The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Some Sydney residents are living in homes with room temperatures nudging 40 degrees, as climate change raises temperatures and fear of big energy bills stops people from cooling down. ... A Planning Department spokeswoman said the NSW government was working to make social housing more comfortable in summer with measures such as efficient reverse cycle air conditioning, ceiling insulation and draft proofing. “We understand the issue of hot homes, which is why we’re investing in upgrades to social housing, greening urban environments and encouraging better housing standards,” she said.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-wrapped-myself-in-a-damp-towel…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Affordable housing, Climate change.