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
I designed the Sirius building but I wish the government had knocked it down
Tao Gofers The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)I am the architect who designed the Sirius building, and I believe the NSW government should have demolished it. Just as they demolished the dreams and aspirations of the people who designed Sirius, built Sirius and lived in Sirius. ... But Millers Point and Sirius are only one minor example of the Coalition government’s policy of resumption of existing social housing developments and relocating the tenants to distant areas. ... I have a simple question. Is it Coalition policy to move all social housing tenants and other low income people from the central council areas to distant suburbs? If so, this starts a new social order of economic apartheid.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/i-designed-the-sirius-buildi…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Housing market, State Government.COVID-19 and renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities - Updated
(No paywall)From the United KIngdom ... Coronavirus (COVID19) | Rules, guidance and support : Guidance for landlords and tenants. Updated 21 June 2021 (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government) ... And for 'Local Authorities', check out: [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities/guidance-for-local-authorities]
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-…
# International, Eviction, Privacy and access, Rent, Repairs, Health.‘Buyer beware’: Sydney agents selling units despite defect notices
Nigel Gladstone The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Property developers are pushing ahead with sales of off-the-plan apartments even though the NSW Building Commissioner has slapped them with orders to fix or monitor defects that real estate agents are required to tell potential buyers about.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/buyer-beware-sydney-agents-s…
# NSW, Strata, Housing market, Landlords and agents, Minimum habitability standards.These are the biggest housing bubbles in the world, on Bloomberg research
Elizabeth Redman Domain (No paywall)House prices are rising in Australia and around the world, but is it a bubble? The biggest bubbles are in the housing markets of New Zealand, Canada and Sweden, but Australia takes 15th place in new global rankings by Bloomberg Economics. And, the frothiest real estate markets are ringing alarm bells not heard since before the global financial crisis, the report warns.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/these-are-the-biggest-housing-bub…
# International, Housing market.Sydney first-home buyers need seven years and one month to save for a house
Tawar Razaghi Domain (No paywall)Sydney’s pandemic property boom has pushed the time it takes first-home buyers to enter the market to a record seven years and one month, according to new research. It now takes six months longer than it did last year for a couple to save a 20 per cent deposit on an entry-priced house of $770,000, Domain’s First-Home Buyer Report, released Monday, found.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/first-home-buyer-report-1064381/?…
# NSW, Coronavirus COVID-19, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market.Government pledges $1.3m to restore Gough Whitlam’s home in Sydney’s west
The Guardian (No paywall)The federal government will put up $1.3m to buy and restore the former prime minister Gough Whitlam’s family home in Sydney’s west.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/19/governmen…
# NSW, Heritage listings.Sirius transformation: $435m of luxury apartments sold in former social housing block
Elias Visontay (No paywall)Sydney’s Sirius building has continued its transformation from historic social housing block to luxury apartment complex with $435m worth of apartments in the block sold over the weekend. Penthouses with infinity pools and an average value of more than $100,000 per square metre were among the sales, including one built as a pod on top of the building which sold for $35m, the Australian reported.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/21/are-you-s…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Housing market.Social housing tenant ordered to pay more than £155,000 after illegally subletting home
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... A woman who unlawfully let a housing association-owned home has been ordered to pay more than £155,000 in one of the largest cases of its kind.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/social-housing-tenant-order…
# International, Public and community housing, Sub-letting.