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
Cost of living crisis and rising private rents put 125,000 London households at risk of homelessness
Stephen Delahunty Inside Housing (Paywall)London Councils has made a stark warning about a spike in homelessness across the capital as skyrocketing inflation and energy bills look set to worsen the cost of living crisis.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/cost-of-living-crisis-…
# International, Utilities water energy internet, Homelessness.Senior NSW council staff face random conflict of interest checks
(No paywall)Senior NSW local government staff and councillors will be subject to random checks to ensure they’re complying with requirements to declare any conflicts of interest. ... “Councillors and council staff, including general managers and administrators, are required to declare their interests, including any property they own or interests they have in companies, and whether they are a property developer or associate of a property developer,” [Local government minister] Wendy Tuckerman said. (Government News)
https://www.governmentnews.com.au/senior-nsw-council-staff-face-…
# NSW, Landlords and agents, Local Government.Cathedral ceilings and local tales: in praise of country church do-overs
Maddie Thomas The Guardian (No paywall)For people seeking a slice of history, church do-over projects are an increasing source of fascination. Renovated into homes, accommodation and workspaces, these buildings have been restored and put to a new purpose – a process which can bring to light old tales from a time when they were the centre of the community.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/14/cathedral…
# Australia, Heritage listings, Housing market.Buying a house is not that much more affordable – except in a few affluent pockets
Tawar Razaghi Domain (No paywall)Housing affordability has barely improved despite the property market downturn, although a handful of affluent areas are the exceptions, new research reveals. House prices are still sky-high in many neighbourhoods, and regional Australians and renters are still bearing the brunt of the recent property boom.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/buying-a-house-is-not-that-…
# Australia, Rent, Housing affordability, Housing market.Regional cities offer solutions to crowded Capitals, but they need development support
Andrew Beer, Laura Crommelin, Akshay Vij, Jago Dodson, Stefanie Dühr and Simon Pinnegar AHURI (No paywall)People living in regional cities enjoy lower housing costs compared with capital cities but have lower incomes and reduced career prospects, according to new AHURI research.
https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/news/regional-cities-offer-sol…
# Australia, Planning and development, Regional NSW.Nowhere to go: NSW caravan park residents in the dark about proposed ban of permanent stays
Tamsin Rose The Guardian (No paywall)A call to stop flood-prone parks from allowing long-term rentals will be considered by a new agency. ... If he couldn’t keep living in the Hibiscus Gardens caravan park, in the shadow of Ballina’s famous Big Prawn, Johnny Tierney would be staying in his car or a tent. He’s rented a caravan at the park in the New South Wales northern rivers for 17 years. Tierney’s been flooded twice this year, and can’t afford to rent elsewhere if that was no longer an option. “I would be living in the back of my truck or in a tent in my daughter’s back yard,” he says. ... Tierney is among thousands who could be affected if the government acts on an independent inquiry’s recommendation to stop flood-prone caravan parks from allowing long term rentals.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/25/nowhere-t…
# NSW, Land lease communities, Homelessness, State Government.David Chandler reverses resignation, stays on as building commissioner
Lucy Cormack The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)David Chandler will stay on as the NSW building commissioner after the Perrottet government convinced him to reconsider his resignation over concerns about sacked fair trading minister Eleni Petinos. The 50-year industry veteran suddenly resigned last month over concerns he had with the direction of the portfolio under Petinos, who was dumped over unrelated bullying allegations that she denies. Chandler’s damning resignation letter, which has been referred to the corruption watchdog, raised issues with Petinos’ relationship with the developer that hired former deputy premier John Barilaro. It also described “important pieces of previously canvassed legislation have now run into serious disruption” in Petinos’ office. Customer Service and Digital Minister Victor Dominello, who has since taken over the portfolio, said securing Chandler until August 2023 will lift customer confidence across residential building and construction. Also, read the article entitled: 'How minister’s sacking led to building commissioner’s resignation reversal' by the same journalists in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/how-minister-s-sacking-led-to-building-commissioner-s-resignation-reversal-20220826-p5bd0n.html] Read the same story in 'Government News' at: [https://bit.ly/3TlbSg4]. Read Jimmy Thomson's blog entitled: 'Chandler back as both commissioners return' on 'Flat Chat' at: [https://www.flatchat.com.au/chanler-minns-back/]
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/david-chandler-reverses-resi…
# NSW, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards, State Government.Closing the Gap: states and territories pledge to lift First Nations housing standards
Sarah Collard The Guardian (No paywall)First Nations housing must meet minimum standards by 2031, under new targets set by joint council and states and territories. State and territory governments will be required to ensure all First Nations houses in homeland communities and town camps meet or exceed minimum standards for essential services within the next decade, under new targets agreed by the joint council on Closing the Gap. The minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, the assistant minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, and their state and territory counterparts met Aboriginal peak bodies in Adelaide on Friday to discuss progress on social, health, economic and educational indicators.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/26/closing-t…
# Australia, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Federal Government, Minimum habitability standards, State Government.