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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
Lifestyle Communities boss James Kelly announces retirement months after ABC investigation into the land lease company's practices
Ben Butler ABC (No paywall)The managing director of Lifestyle Communities has announced his retirement, three months after a 7.30 investigation into the company exposed the high fees it charged residents when they left its developments. James Kelly, 65, who co-founded Lifestyle more than two decades ago, is leaving without a successor in place, the company told the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) on Monday. The company's share price was hit hard in July — when 7.30 broadcast its investigation — falling 7.8 per cent from $12.57 to $11.59. Mr Kelly did not respond to questions about whether his retirement was linked to the 7.30 investigation.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-14/lifestyle-communities-bos…
# Hot topic NSW, Land lease communities.NSW Parliament To Limit Landlords To Only One Rent Increase A Year & How Will They Survive???
Lachlan Hodson Pedestrian (No paywall)As part of a sweeping reform to the rental laws in NSW, the state’s government has introduced a new cap to rent increases. In what is sure to be a devastating blow to the already-struggling landlords of NSW, property owners will now only be allowed one measly unlimited rent increase a year. Oh the humanity! NSW Premier Chris Minns‘ Government has been on a spree of soft launching rental reforms over the past few months, as part of their election commitment to create a more equal balance between renters and landlords.
# Hot topic, New policy announcement NSW, Eviction, Rent.Pets in, repeat rent hikes out in long-awaited reform
Jack Gramenz and Neve Brissenden Newcastle Herald (No paywall)Long-awaited tenancy reforms will help families build a stable life and stop young people fleeing Australia's most expensive market, but landlords who do the right thing have nothing to fear. Rental-law changes were introduced to NSW parliament on Tuesday after years of debate and election promises. More than 2.2 million tenants have been waiting for the overhaul after Labor and the coalition went into the 2023 state election promising to ban no-grounds evictions.
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/8791937/new-tenancy-law…
# Hot topic, TUNSW in the media, Legal significance, New policy announcement NSW, Eviction, Rent.Rental increases capped under reforms introduced to NSW parliament
Allanah Sciberras 9 News (No paywall)Rental increases will be capped to once a year across NSW, under new reforms introduced to state parliament today. The reforms into rental laws will also end "no ground evictions", meaning landlords will need to give "reasonable and sensible reasons" to end a fixed term or periodic lease. Better Regulation and Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said the move would provide "greater certainty and protection for renters".
https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-south-wales-rental-increas…
# Hot topic, Legal significance, New policy announcement NSW, Eviction, Rent.Landlord with seven properties decries 'greed' as tenants handed new rights: 'Bothers me'
Stewart Perrie Yahoo News (No paywall)Roughly two million renters in New South Wales can breathe a sigh of relief from today as new rules kick into gear that strengthens their tenancy rights. Premier Chris Minns has mandated that rent increases will be capped at once every 12 months, along with a raft of other measures. The move is designed to weed out bad landlords from putting increased financial pressure on tenants. Sydney-based landlord and buyer's agent Jo Vadillo, who has seven investment properties, told Yahoo Finance this is a commonsense approach to keeping everyone happy. "It always bothers me when I see this greed come out of people... I actually think the reforms are fair and they are needed," she said.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/landlord-with-seven-properties…
# Hot topic, Legal significance NSW, Eviction, Rent.Newcastle Renters' Forum: Have a say, help shape reform with Commissioner
Gabriel Fowler Newcastle Herald (Paywall)NEWCASTLE renters are invited to tell it how it is at a forum with the NSW Rental Commissioner just as parliament inches closer to debating rental law reform.
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/8793679/newcastle-rente…
# Hot topic, TUNSW in the media NSW, .Thousands march in Spain to demand affordable housing
Elena Rodriguez and Raul Cadenas Reuters (No paywall)MADRID, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Thousands protested on Sunday in Madrid to demand more affordable housing amid rising anger from Spaniards who feel they are being priced out of the market. Under the slogan "Housing is a right, not a business", residents marched in the Spanish capital to demand lower housing rental prices and better living conditions. Twelve thousand people took to the streets, according to the Spanish government. "Spaniards cannot live in their own cities. They are forcing us out of the cities. The government has to regulate prices, regulate housing," said nurse Blanca Prieto, 33.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/thousands-march-spain-deman…
# Hot topic International, Rent.Massive rent hikes, dodgy landlords – unlike many MPs, I know what renting is like. We have to fix it
Chris Curtis The Guardian (No paywall)his week in parliament we will begin the vital work of fixing the broken private rental sector in England. For too long, unscrupulous private landlords have been able to take advantage of tenants with sudden no-fault evictions, unacceptable living conditions and exorbitant rent increases. I know because I’ve been there. I can remember vividly when I was told by a previous landlord that he was “willing to let me stay” in the flat I’d called home for five years if I agreed to a 29% rent increase with two months’ notice. If not I could clear out. At the same time, we regularly went days without hot water when the dodgy old boiler he refused to replace broke down.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/09/renting-ho…
# Hot topic International, .