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
How much have property prices risen over the past 30 years?
Kate Burke Domain (No paywall)Australia’s property market has recorded phenomenal growth over the past three decades, but new figures dispel the myth that prices always double every 10 years.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/how-much-have-property-pric…
# Australia, Housing market.Draught-proofing, double glazing, curtains: Ways to make your home more energy efficient and save money
Iskhandar Razak ABC (No paywall)Emma Lynas felt "lucky" and "excited" when she and her partner bought in North Melbourne, but now feels deflated. "It's just frustrating," she said. "We scored 1.6 stars out of 10. That's bad." With that low rating in mind, Ms Lynas borrowed more than she needed for environmental renovations. But the mother of one was shocked by the prices. ... [But Sustainability Victoria chief executive] said there were options for renters and owners of all budgets.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-01/making-victorian-homes-en…
# Australia, Utilities water energy internet, Climate change, Home.New Adelaide housing will help people with mental health issues move out of hospital
Charles Brice ABC (No paywall)New accommodation units will be built in northern Adelaide in an effort to reduce the amount of people with mental health issues who remain in hospital due to a lack of appropriate housing in the community. The South Australian government will invest $5 million to construct 16 units in Clearview, which will be operated by Mind Australia. The housing will provide long-term options for those who have a psychological disability, have a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) package and are in need of supported housing.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-03/new-adelaide-housing-for-…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Disability.What regional builders are facing after a stack of big city construction company liquidations
Owen Jacques ABC (No paywall)When Oracle Homes crashed into liquidation last week, Queenslanders building homes across the state watched on and wondered if their dream homes could also be left in limbo. But while Oracle has operated almost entirely across Greater Brisbane, experts say the pressure facing builders across regional Queensland is the same and so are the risks.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-01/regional-builders-constru…
# Australia, Housing market.RIP underquoting: In 2022, houses are actually selling for what they're asking – or less
Ellen Lutton Domain (No paywall)Loud amid the chaos of last year’s property boom were the headlines that reported, week after week, properties selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars – sometimes millions – over the reserve or asking price. For the sellers of these properties, it was like winning the lottery. For buyers, however, it was an incredibly frustrating and confusing experience. ... But that’s changed as the property market has shifted.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/rip-underquoting-in-2022-houses-a…
# Australia, Housing market.I’m considering an interest-only home loan. What do I need to know?
Adrian Lee The Conversation (No paywall)An interest-only home loan, as the name suggests, is where you only pay the interest on a loan and not the principal (the original amount you borrowed). While authorities such as the Reserve Bank often see them as risky, interest-only loans can be helpful in some circumstances. If you’re considering an interest-only loan, here’s what you need to know.
https://theconversation.com/im-considering-an-interest-only-home…
# Australia, Housing market.More housing supply isn’t a cure-all for the housing crisis
Yushu Zhu, Dorin Vaez Mahdavi and Meg Holden The Conversation (No paywall)Canada needs to build more homes, faster, according to a recent report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The report estimates that British Columbia alone will need 570,000 new units by 2030 to meet a moderate affordability level of 44 per cent. Not coincidentally, building more housing has gained steam among policy-makers ... While it’s important to recognize the lack of affordable housing as part of the housing crisis, the problem with our housing system isn’t as simple as the disequilibrium between supply and demand. Increasing market housing supply will not end the housing crisis on its own. ... [Also, the] negative secondary effects of the pandemic did not impact everyone equally. Our study found that homeowners fared the best in mental and social well-being, while market rental tenants fared the worst.
https://theconversation.com/more-housing-supply-isnt-a-cure-all-…
# International, Rent, Affordable housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, Health, Housing market.Last Wittenoom resident's future uncertain as WA government refuses to say when she must leave
Tom Robinson and Kelly Gudgeon ABC (No paywall)The West Australian government is refusing to say when the final resident of asbestos-covered Wittenoom will be forced out of her home of 40 years. Lorraine Thomas, 80, was ordered to leave the Pilbara town on August 31, but missed the deadline because of personal circumstances, according to her family. The state government told her to leave after it closed the town and acquired the remaining properties under the Wittenoom Closure Act earlier this year, and planned to demolish and bury all structures. Documents seen by the ABC reveal police and court officers intend to travel to the town to evict anyone who remains, but the government has refused to say when this will happen.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-02/last-wittenoom-resident-u…
# Australia, Eviction, Asbestos, lead, hazardous materials, State Government.