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
The Sydney suburbs where rents fell the most: Domain Rent Report
Kate Burke Domain (Paywall)Renters have made huge savings across a swathe of sought-after suburbs in inner Sydney, with median rents falling by hundreds of dollars a week in some top neighbourhoods. Median rents across 57 suburbs dropped by 10 per cent or more over the year to December, new figures show, with many of the largest percentage drops for units in the city centre and eastern suburbs. ... [But] “We are still getting a lot of people calling,” said chief executive [of the Tenants' Union of NSW] Leo Patterson Ross. “People having to move either because they’re being evicted or because of affordability issues — partly because of JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments dropping partly because of the influx of renters into a lot of fringe and regional areas.”
https://www.domain.com.au/news/the-sydney-suburbs-where-rents-fe…
# TUNSW in the media NSW, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.Help shape the future of strata in NSW
(No paywall)If you own, live or rent in a strata property, such as a townhouse or apartment, or work in strata, we want to hear your views on how the laws are working. We’re reviewing the rules . [Read on]
https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/strata-statutory-review-2020
# New policy announcement NSW, Strata, NSW Fair Trading, State Government.Strong interstate demand to keep rental market tight
Ian Bushnell (No paywall)Canberra’s strong economy and success withstanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are generating heavy demand for rental properties, with rents continuing to rise in 2020 to be the most expensive in the country alongside shrinking vacancies.
https://the-riotact.com/strong-interstate-demand-to-keep-rental-…
# Australia, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.Coronavirus: Government's rough sleeping strategy 'out of step'
Jennifer Scott BBC (No paywall)From United Kingdom ... The government must review its strategy to end rough sleeping in England by 2024 after coronavirus showed it to be "out of step", a watchdog warned. A National Audit Office report praised the 'Everyone In' scheme, which housed about 33,000 people in the crisis. But the plan highlighted issues with the current strategy - with thousands more needing help than expected. ... At the time, a snapshot figure taken by the government one evening showed 4,266 people were sleeping on the streets in England. But it did not include people in night shelters or assessment centres, and could have missed people sleeping hidden from view.
# Hot topic International, Coronavirus COVID-19, Homelessness.International student accommodation almost empty as sector battles with COVID-19 quarantine and border restrictions
Kristian Silva ABC (No paywall)On Melbourne's Swanston Street, the final touches are being put on a $100 million tower for as many as 750 university students. ... But the building is likely to be mostly empty when the new semester begins in about six weeks. ... With Australia's borders shut to countries other than New Zealand, it appears unlikely many foreign students will be able to return in the coming months.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-15/international-student-gho…
# Hot topic Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Students.The UK has some of the least energy-efficient housing in Europe – here’s how to fix this
Sankar Sivarajah The Conversation (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Poorly constructed housing can seriously affect people’s health and wellbeing. And with the UK having some of the oldest buildings in Europe, that’s a lot of housing not fit for purpose. Almost 2.5 million families in the UK live in poor housing conditions and suffer from fuel poverty. This means they are unable to maintain a reasonable temperature in their homes due to low income. Most of the housing in the UK dates back to before the 1990s when energy efficiency design was not regulated. Read on ...
https://theconversation.com/the-uk-has-some-of-the-least-energy-…
# International, Utilities water energy internet, Minimum habitability standards, Planning and development.Sydney rents: Influx of short-stay accommodation puts downward pressure on longer-term rent prices
Tawar Razaghi and others Domain (Paywall)Landlords of short-stay rentals in the heart of Sydney that once fetched hundreds of dollars a night have been forced to return them to the long-term rental market amid the pandemic, with the supply glut slashing prices for locals.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/sydney-rents-influx-of-short-stay…
# NSW, Rent, Housing market, Short-term holiday letting.Tasmanians are turning to caravan parks in lieu of affordable rentals
Kate Ainsworth and Annah Fromberg ABC (No paywall)From Tasmania ... Before their move, [Tania Harwood and her] family had lived in a rental property through community housing but, when faced with a two-year wait for a public housing transfer and a tight rental market, they decided to move into the town's only caravan park. "It's very very hard [to find housing]," Ms Harwood said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-17/people-turning-to-caravan…
# Australia, Land lease communities, Affordable housing.