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
Report finds children’s not-for-profit splashed taxpayer funds on staff properties, luxury beanbags
Linda Silmalis Daily Telegraph (Paywall)A “not-for-profit” organisation set up to look after the state’s most vulnerable children used taxpayer funds to lease investment properties owned by its senior staff at an inflated price – with the scheme even advertised to staff. A confidential audit commissioned by the NSW government – and obtained by The Sunday Telegraph – also found the agency splashed $70,000 on luxury beanbags. The audit found invoices for Apple phones, air fryers and mattresses did not state whether the items ended up being used to deliver services for children in its care. The report was tabled in state parliament on Friday. The organisation received almost $70m in public funding last year alone.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/report-finds-children…
# Australia, .Explained: How negative gearing affects Aus property market
Kate McIntyre news.com.au (No paywall)Calls are growing louder for bold reform on negative gearing in a bid to open the door to the Australian housing market for young Aussies currently locked out. Unions and other advocates have thrown their support behind a plan to limit negative gearing tax breaks to those with one investment property only, which they believe would stop disproportionate benefits going to the wealthy and encourage the freeing up of housing supply for buyers seeking to own and occupy a home. Negative gearing delivers billions of dollars in annual tax benefits and has long been a target for those who want to see the process scrapped.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/explained-how-negati…
# Hot topic Australia, .NSW’s ‘renovictions’ loophole could undermine the progress made with no-grounds evictions
Alan Morris and Chris Martin The Conversation (No paywall)There was much cause for celebration when no-grounds evictions were abolished in New South Wales on May 19. Keeping a pre-election promise, the NSW government amended the state’s Residential Tenancies Act to end no-grounds evictions and add new reasonable grounds for termination instead. In doing so, NSW joined the ACT and South Australia, which had recently abolished no-grounds evictions.
https://theconversation.com/nsws-renovictions-loophole-could-und…
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction, Rent, Repairs.Tribunal sides with tenant in test of new laws on pets in NSW rental properties
Sarah Moss ABC (No paywall)Casey Munro says his life has changed for the better since new laws making pet ownership easier for rental tenants came into force in New South Wales. Under new rules in place since May, a landlord cannot reject a tenant's application to keep a pet without a valid reason. Three months on, Mr Munro's border collie dog Elsie — who was living with his mother — has moved in with him. "Allowing me to have a dog improved my fitness, my mental health and just … my living standards," he said. But for Mr Munro, the application process was not without challenges.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-17/tribunal-sides-with-tenan…
# Must read, Hot topic, Legal significance NSW, Pets, Rent, Tribunal NCAT.Tiny house eviction notice for Bega Valley couple amid dispute on moveable dwellings
Isla Evans and Floss Adams ABC (No paywall)Josh Heins and Manu Bohn's 12-square-metre home in the New South Wales Bega Valley could be viewed as too small for comfort. Mr Heins described it as being "as long as the biggest crocodile recorded, but not quite as tall as the average giraffe". "Everything's pretty cramped," he said. "But it fits us. It fits all the things that we love." However, their dwelling has fallen foul of local council rules and they may lose their home.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-19/tiny-house-eviction-bega-…
# Must read NSW, Eviction.More than two-thirds of NSW public land suitable for housing sold to private developers
Anne Davies The Guardian (No paywall)The New South Wales government has sold more than two-thirds of publicly owned sites identified as surplus and suitable for housing to private developers as a result of its much-vaunted statewide property audit. Many sites are being sold without requirements for social or affordable housing. Despite a Labor policy directing that government land suitable for housing should be prioritised for public housing, Homes NSW has bought just three of the 55 sites that have been identified for sale. It is now in the planning stage to construct 208 homes. It has expressed interest in a further seven sites.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/20/more-than…
# Hot topic NSW, .Vulnerable youth non-for-profit Allambi Care agrees to end 'unacceptable' housing scheme
Alexander Lewis ABC (No paywall)A vulnerable youth not-for-profit accused of subsidising the property investments of its staff can now be revealed, after a forensic audit over its use of taxpayer funds. Allambi Care, which provides out of home care for young people, has agreed to end a scheme that allowed staff to purchase an investment property and lease it to the organisation for above market rent, according to the NSW families minister.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-19/allambi-care-investment-p…
# NSW, .Woman in custody accused of setting own home on fire
NBN News (No paywall)A woman is in custody tonight, accused of setting fire to her Lake Macquarie home. Police, firefighters and ambulance crews raced to the scene last night but the house couldn’t be saved.
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2025/08/18/woman-in-custody-accused-o…
# Video NSW, Disasters.