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
Why improving social housing could be remarkably simple (and affordable)
Nicky Shaw and Simon Williams The Conversation (No paywall)Tragedies in social housing, such as the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and the death of toddler Awaab Ishak due to damp living conditions in 2020, remain shocking. As a coroner commented at the time, “How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old child die as a result of exposure to mould?” Since then developments like Awaab’s Law have increased landlords’ accountability for delivering decent homes. However, improvements to housing stock may appear to be happening at a snail’s pace, as shown by the tower block fire in Dagenham, east London, in 2024
https://theconversation.com/why-improving-social-housing-could-b…
# Must read International, Public and community housing, Rent, Repairs, Security and safety.MPs back one-month cap on advance rent payments
Jennifer McKiernan BBC (No paywall)MPs have voted for a new, one-month cap on advance rent payments in England as the Renters' Rights Bill edges closer to becoming law. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed the addition of a clause to stop landlords making upfront charges in the Commons on Tuesday. Landlord groups have warned the move could leave property owners open to risk if tenants have no other way of proving their ability to pay rent on an ongoing basis. And Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn warned some tenants were being evicted before the package of protections in the Bill, which includes a ban on "no-fault" evictions, can come into effect as expected this summer.
# Must read International, Rent.Rents in Northern Ireland soared by 9% in 2024 to hit monthly average of £942
Gary McDonald Irish News (No paywall)The north’s housing market ended 2024 on a hugely positive note, with 5,700 newly agreed sales in the final quarter, an 11% rise on the previous year, an industry report shows. But PropertyPal’s latest quarterly barometer also reveals that renters in Northern Ireland continue to face eye-watering increases, with annual price growth of 9% in 2024, pushing the average monthly rent to a record-breaking £942 on average. The report said buyer confidence soared during October, November and December, supported by a 12% increase in newly listed properties for sale, with 4,527 homes added to the market during the quarter, which helped meet growing demand and contributed to heightened market activity.
https://www.irishnews.com/news/business/rents-in-north-soared-by…
# International, Rent.B.C.‘s short-term rental registry ushers in next phase of crackdown
CTV News (No paywall)B.C.‘s crackdown on short-term rentals has entered what the housing minister describes as “phase two,” which requires all operators to register with the province.
England’s renters are about to gain more rights, but until then landlords may exploit weak regulation even more cruelly
Nick Bano The Guardian (No paywall)Last month, I was working with a young homeless family on England’s south coast. The local council had found them a privately rented flat with an agreed rent, and provided a “landlord incentive” payment of £1,500. But, when the council emailed the landlord to confirm the arrangements, he replied to say that he was increasing the rent by £100 a month because “the market is moving in that direction”. The property was mortgage-free, so the price hike could not be blamed on rising costs. This is not uncommon: Zoopla estimates that 70% of landlords have either no debt or a small mortgage.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/17/england-re…
# Must read International, Rent.Bali tourism leaders push for crackdown on illegal rental villas
Paul Stevens Short Term Rentalz (No paywall)Indonesia: Tourism leaders in the Indonesian province of Bali are set to launch a crackdown on holiday rental villas being operated illegally without the correct business registration documents. Villas in Bali are required to be built according to Indonesian safety standards, while the businesses operating those properties must pay tax in Indonesia and employ staff in line with Indonesian law in order to be legally recognised.
https://shorttermrentalz.com/news/bali-crackdown-illegal-holiday…
# Hot topic International, .Squeezed out of the market: Why is renting so difficult in the Netherlands?
Eleanor Butler Euro News (No paywall)The Dutch government is rolling out a law to cap excessively high rental costs. Economists are divided on the subject. Speak to housing experts in the Netherlands and many will paint you a gloomy picture. As in other EU countries, rental costs are skyrocketing, supply is constrained, and homeownership remains unattainable for many. According to the most recent data from the country's national statistics office, rents rose by an average of 5.4% year-on-year in July 2024. That's the largest average rent increase since 1993.
https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/12/13/squeezed-out-of-the…
# Hot topic International, Rent.The Sydneyist - Is Sydney becoming a ghetto for the rich?
East Side FM (No paywall)Is Sydney becoming a ghetto for the rich? The Selwyn Street boarding houses have become a test case for affordable inner-city living. Mike Mannix has been leading the fight to save them, and the 30 people they house. Tonight Mike Mannix joins Elizabeth Farrelly on The Sydneyist to give us the latest in this battle for fairness and decency.
# Audio NSW, .