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
Cockroach infestation was so bad renters were kept awake by the sound of the insects scuttling
By Stuff 9 News (No paywall)Aotearoa, New Zealand: Tenants who lived with a cockroach infestation so severe the insects' scuttling kept them awake at night have been awarded $12,000. The cockroaches were also blamed for the failure of two dishwashers at the property, but were not the only issue at the $1300 a week rental, the Tenancy Tribunal heard. According to a recently released tribunal decision, the six tenants were also without a working stove for months before being asked to pay for a replacement, and were threatened with eviction if they did not pay more than $700 to replace a toilet they were blamed for breaking.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-zealand-compensation-award…
# Must read International, Rent, Tribunal NCAT.Social housing rents to rise as part of UK push to build affordable homes
Jack Simpson The Guardian (No paywall)Social housing rents will rise by more than inflation over the next decade as part of UK government plans to boost affordable housebuilding and shore up the finances of struggling landlords. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is working on plans to introduce a 10-year formula to calculate social rent on homes that will result in rents increasing every year by the rate of the consumer prices index – which is now 2.2% – plus 1%, removing an existing cap on rises. Reeves is expected to announce the plan at her first budget, on 30 October, alongside measures to raise taxes and cut spending.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/21/social-h…
# Hot topic International, Public and community housing.Singapore introduces measures to cool the public housing market
Lee Ying Shan CNBC (No paywall)Singapore has tightened the maximum loan that home buyers can take out in a bid to cool the country’s public housing resale market. From Tuesday, buyers of HDB flats won’t be allowed to borrow as much as before. The loan-to-value limit for Housing Development Board loans will be lowered from 80% to 75%, according to a press release released by the government late on Monday. HDB is the city-state’s public housing authority.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/20/singapore-introduces-cooling-mea…
# Hot topic International, Public and community housing.'Being evicted absolutely destroyed me as a mother'
Joshua Askew BBC (No paywall)A single mother who was forced out her home of 16 years has called on the government to improve renters' rights. After she was served a no-fault eviction notice, Keziah Hall and her teenage daughter were refused hundreds of rentals in Brighton and eventually placed in emergency accommodation by the council, which they described as unsafe and unsuitable. Ms Hall said the experience "absolutely destroyed me as a mother" and "made me feel like I was failing my daughter".
# Must read International, Eviction, Rent.Sky-high rents have Mumbai residents living on the edge
news.com.au (No paywall)Among the swanky skyscrapers of India's financial capital Mumbai, hundreds of dangerously dilapidated buildings facing demolition are crowded with families risking their lives rather than braving impossibly high rents. When torrential monsoon rains lash the coastal city each year, some of the decrepit colonial-era buildings come crashing down -- often with a heavy loss of life. "It was like seeing a biscuit that crumbles after you put it in tea," said office worker Vikram Kohli, recalling how he narrowly missed being killed when a four-storey building partially collapsed in July. City authorities had red-flagged the century-old building in the megacity's bustling Grant Road area for repairs three years ago.
https://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/skyhigh-rents-have-mumbai-…
# Hot topic International, Rent, Repairs, Security and safety.71 offenders fined since 2019 for providing illegal short stays in Singapore
Ashley Tham Channel News Asia (No paywall)SINGAPORE: A total of 71 offenders have been fined since 2019 for providing illegal short-term stays in Singapore, authorities said on Wednesday (Jul 3). Of these, 64 were fined for providing such stays in private properties, while the remaining seven were fined for providing short-term rentals of HDB flats, said HDB and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in a joint reply on Wednesday in response to media queries.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/illegal-short-term-sta…
# Hot topic International, Rent.RealPage enabled landlords to collude, inflate rent prices, DOJ complaint claims
CBS News (No paywall)The Department of Justice is alleging RealPage's tech enabled landlords to collude and inflate rent prices. RealPage says the tech is designed to be legally compliant. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane breaks down the complaint.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/realpage-enabled-landlords-to-coll…
# Video International, Rent.The average American drops $330,000 on rent before becoming a homeowner
Sydney Lake Fortune (Soft Paywall)It’s painful enough to watch your bank account drain each month when rent is due. But what’s even more alarming is taking a look at the cumulative amount you’ve spent on rent over the years. Indeed, the typical American renter can expect to pay more than $333,000 during their time as a renter, including bills or additional expenses, according to a recent study by personal finance technology company Self Financial. The analysis used Zillow data to calculate median monthly rent and utilities by state, RentCafe data for average utility costs, and Insure.com for renters’ insurance estimates, and assumes people start renting at age 22 and buy their first home at 35, based on National Association of Realtors estimates. That breaks down to about $25,000 spent per year, on average, or just slightly more than $2,000 per month.
https://fortune.com/2024/08/26/rent-lifetime-costs-average-homeo…
# Hot topic International, Rent.