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
Buyer’s market? Sydney auctions drop to weakest level since pandemic began
Kate Burke and Melissa Heagney The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Sydney’s auction clearance rate has dropped to its lowest level in years, with almost one in two homes failing to sell under the hammer as rising interest rates and affordability constraints hit buyer demand. Also, read Melissa Heagney's article entitled: 'Buyer’s market? Melbourne auctions hit their lowest level since lockdown' in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/buyer-s-market-melbourne-auctions-hit-their-lowest-level-since-lockdown-20220707-p5azxf.html]
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/buyer-s-market-sydney-aucti…
# NSW, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing affordability, Housing market.Everyone deserves a healthy home: Climate disruption and rental homes in NSW
Rita Wilkinson Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)Climate change is not new. Scientists have been monitoring the effects of increased carbon in our atmosphere, and the reduction of greenhouse gases has been a well publicised global issue since at least the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. ... [And] it will impact on our lives. Climate disruption will mean more heatwave events, more flash floods, more severe droughts, more outbreaks of viruses and bacteria. Climate disruption will not wait until 2050 nor even 2030. It is here now and is impacting on our lives. And the homes we reside in are a major factor in ensuring a healthy and comfortable life.
https://www.tenants.org.au/blog/everyone-deserves-healthy-home-c…
# Must read NSW, Utilities water energy internet, Climate change, Health, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards, Planning and development.Census 2021: Renters are the fastest growing tenure in Australia.
Jemima Mowbray, Leo Patterson Ross, Jack Moon and Zuzia Buszewicz Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)Last week the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its first round of data from last year's Census (2021). This is the key population data collected on Census night, though some really interesting data on mobility and tenure will be released with other 'additional location variables and employment data' due out in October - we'll also then get the ability to dive in more fully to the data. We'll be looking at the 2021 Census data and sharing the insights as they are made available. In this blog, we get started with a few headline results about renting in NSW.
https://www.tenants.org.au/blog/census-2021-renters-are-fastest-…
# NSW, Rent, Utilities water energy internet, Families, Housing affordability, Housing market, No-grounds evictions.Tenant News
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)Lots of news about the Census, a new national housing agenda, climate change, NSW Budget, pets, older renters and homelessness ... Last week's Census data showed that the number of renting households in NSW has increased by almost 18% since 2016. Over two million people now rent in the NSW private rental market. The proportion of renters has also increased – we now make up nearly a third of all households in NSW. Unfortunately, while our overall numbers have increased, Census data also confirmed that the number of households in public or community housing in NSW continues to drop – the number fell by more than 1,500. This is not because of reduced need. The waiting list is many years long – we just don’t have the homes required. Meanwhile, one million homes were unoccupied on census night (ABC). Census data also demostrated that housing stress is growing. The number of households in NSW paying more than 30% of income on rent has increased by over 21,000 to 335,404 in 2021 - though that may not be the best way to measure housing stress! Despite our growing numbers, those of us who rent our homes are still often left out of the conversation about how to fix our housing system. Governments need to listen to renters – about our experiences renting and our concerns. But also about what is needed to fix the problems. ...
https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=29c79d2825cb376b3f0b06385&id…
# Must read NSW, Public and community housing, Rent, Campaigns and law reform, Climate change, Families, Federal Government, Homelessness, Housing market, Older people, State Government.‘True emergency’: Housing affordability crisis at breaking point after decade of policy inaction
Matthew Elmas The New Daily (No paywall)Australia’s housing affordability crisis has reached “fever pitch” as interest rate hikes push rents to fresh highs and force huge numbers of pensioners and low-income workers into unaffordable properties. A report into the housing market by Anglicare Australia on Thursday found the number of affordable rentals for minimum-wage workers has halved in the past decade to just 15 per cent, while only 1.4 per cent of available houses are still affordable for aged pensioners. You will find Anglicare's report at: [https://thenewdaily.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1657087167-EMBARGOED-Homes-for-All.pdf]
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2022/07/07/housi…
# Research alert Australia, Rent, Housing affordability, Housing market.Without meaningful national housing strategies, first-home buyer schemes will only increase owners’ wealth
Hal Pawson and Chris Martin The Guardian (No paywall)More than $20bn was given by Australian governments in tax breaks and cash grants to first-home buyers in the decade to 2021. While assisting access to home ownership is an electorally popular policy, these schemes are widely criticised by economists and public policy experts as inequitable and ultimately counter-productive, with each new boost in assistance driving prices further beyond reach for those who miss out. You will find a link to this AHURI Report entitled: 'Assisting first homebuyers: an international policy review' at: [https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/381]
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/07/without-me…
# Research alert Australia, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing market, International, State Government.To stop risky developments in floodplains, we have to tackle the profit motive – and our false sense of security
Brian Robert Cook and Tim Werner The Conversation (No paywall)In the aftermath of destructive floods, we often seek out someone to blame. Common targets are the “negligent local council”, the “greedy developer”, “the builder cutting corners”, and the “foolish home owner.” Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, as Sydney’s huge floods make clear. In flood risk management, there’s a well-known idea called the “levee effect.” Floodplain expert Gilbert White popularised it in 1945 by demonstrating how building flood control measures in the Mississippi catchment contributed to increased flood damage. People felt more secure knowing a levee was nearby, and developers built further into the flood plains. When levees broke or were overtopped, much more development was exposed and the damages were magnified. “Dealing with floods in all their capricious and violent aspects is a problem in part of adjusting human occupance,” White wrote. The levee effect shows why it’s so hard to reduce flood risk, even in areas hit hardest by this year’s record-breaking floods. The NSW town of Lismore had a 10 metre levee, experience dealing with many floods, and a flood risk management plan. It was devastated regardless.
https://theconversation.com/to-stop-risky-developments-in-floodp…
# NSW, Climate change, Housing market, Planning and development.More than 100 MPs earn a ‘significant’ income from renting out properties, research finds
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... At least 17% of MPs own properties that generate a “significant” rental income, new research from an anti-corruption organisation has found. It comes as MPs prepare to scrutinise the Renters’ Reform Bill, the aim of which is to improve the rights of private tenants. ... An analysis of parliamentarians’ parliamentary interests, published today by Transparency International UK, has identified 113 (17%) MPs holding 261 properties between them which generate a significant income, defined by parliamentary rules as £10,000 or more annually. Using “conservative estimates”, researchers calculated that these MPs received a collective rental income of £2.6m per year, although they said this number could be much higher. Meanwhile, almost 40% of parliamentarians (212 MPs and 321 Lords) were found to have a registered interest in property, registering 1,325 property interests in the UK, including at least 820 physical residential and commercial assets. Transparency International UK defines property interest as a direct or indirect interest in property, which could include owning land assets, or working for or owning a property-related company. You may read the report entitled 'Parliamentary Estates' by Transparency International UK at: [https://www.transparency.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/Parliamentary%20Estates%20-%20Transparency%20International%20UK.pdf]
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/more-than-100-mps-earn…
# International, Federal Government, Housing market, Landlords and agents, State Government.