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
It's been a year since Byron Bay's controversial holiday rental cap started – has it been worth it?
Lisa Hamilton TimeOut (No paywall)There’s a lot to love about holidaying in Byron Bay. The place has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, cool shopping, top-tier dining, and the opportunity to accidentally rub shoulders with Chris Hemsworth while getting an acai bowl. However, last September the NSW Government and the local Byron Shire Council made moves towards solving the area's rental crisis (for locals) by introducing a 60-day rental cap. The initiative meant that home owners could only list their properties on short-term holiday sites like Airbnb and Stayz for 60 days of the year – with the intended effect of freeing up homes for locals to enter into long-term home leases.
https://www.timeout.com/sydney/news/its-been-a-year-since-byron-…
# Hot topic NSW, Rent.The latest on ‘phase two’ Amendments to the RLLC Act
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)The statutory review of the Residential Land Lease Communities Act 2013 (RLLC Act) was tabled in parliament in November of 2021 and so far, only 21 out of the 48 recommendations from the review have passed parliament. We know that some of the amendments retained for ‘phase two’ of the statutory review are of high importance, particularly for home owners whose circumstances will be directly improved by the next phase of amendments we’re waiting for.
https://www.tenants.org.au/thenoticeboard/news/latest-phase-two-…
# NSW, Land lease communities.Government housing affordability scheme under pressure
Briana Charles SBS (No paywall)The Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) is under intense political scrutiny following the launch of a forensic nine-month federal audit. The $10 billion scheme, intended to boost social and affordable housing, is accused by the Opposition of wasting taxpayer funds and overpaying for properties. The debate has been dominated by the fund's slow delivery and expert concerns that its structure incentivises market-tied "fake affordable" rents over genuine public housing.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/government-housing-a…
# Audio Australia, .Rough sleeping camps found burnt in Launceston
Hayden Smith ABC (No paywall)There are growing concerns for people experiencing homelessness in Northern Tasmania after the burning of camps used by rough sleepers. The charred remains of two camp sites were recently found on the banks of the Tamar River in Launceston. Police say a fire was reported on Sunday, but have no information to suggest it was suspicious. However, advocates are alarmed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-24/tasmania-launceston-housi…
# Must read, Hot topic Australia, .When can tenants challenge evictions?
Damien Carrick ABC (No paywall)How do tenancy tribunals balance the competing needs of tenants and landlords? And why is Victoria - from a tenants' perspective - ahead of the pack? Guests: Tanya Lakic, Lawyer, Peninsula Community Legal Centre. Leo Patterson Ross, CEO, Tenants' Union of NSW.
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/lawreport/tenants-and-lan…
# TUNSW in the media, Audio Australia, Eviction.Queensland's rental watchdog under fire after issuing just four fines to landlords, agents in past year
Owen Jacques ABC (No paywall)Queensland's powerful rental watchdog could be facing a shake-up after issuing just four fines in the past 12 months despite identifying hundreds of offences by landlords and real estate agents. New figures this week show that for 478 offences confirmed by investigations by the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA), landlords or agents were given either further education or a caution. The four fines were given to landlords or agents for unlawful entry, holding an open home without consent and showing personal items in an advertisement.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-05/residential-tenancies-aut…
# Australia, Rent.Families, single women joining Queensland's record high social housing waitlist
Johanna Marie and James Taylor ABC (No paywall)Following the death of her aunty, with whom she shared a home, Julie Kelly was forced to join Queensland's long queue for social housing. The 62-year-old said the choice was either homelessness or accepting a one-bedroom unit in the rural North Burnett town of Gayndah, 150 kilometres away. "They told me there was nothing available in Bundaberg for me and it got to a very stressful stage," she said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-30/queensland-social-housing…
# Australia, Public and community housing.Labor’s 5% deposit scheme will only make the banks richer – and that’s the point
Max Chandler-Mather DeepCut News (No paywall)Labor’s latest 5% house deposit scheme housing policy – expanding the Liberals’ Home Guarantee Scheme – is a policy for bank profit, not first home buyers. It will drive up house prices, push first home buyers into more debt and deny thousands of low-income renters the chance to buy a home. The Home Guarantee Scheme allows first home buyers to get a mortgage with just a 5% deposit, without having to pay for mortgage lenders insurance.
https://www.deepcutnews.com/p/labors-5-deposit-scheme-will-only-…
# Australia, .