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
‘What’s the point?’: Flood pain for Hawkesbury Nepean residents wanting buyback scheme
Laura Chung and Billie Eder The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)After four floods in two years, Windsor resident Darrell Davis needs a fresh start – far away from the floodplains. So far, Davis has had little luck selling the family home of 20 years and jokes that the frequent water views aren’t attracting buyers. Because he cannot afford to rebuild, now that he is retired, Davis only has two options: sell up or hope for a government buyback scheme.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/what-s-the-point-flood-pain-…
# NSW, Housing market, State Government.NSW premier makes secret visit to housing pods being built on flooded land
Tamsin Rose The Guardian (No paywall)Hours after proclaiming building on New South Wales’ flood plains needed to stop, the premier, Dominic Perrottet, was standing in a construction zone for emergency housing that, just months earlier, lay under water.The premier’s visit to the Mullumbimby temporary housing site – where construction is being overseen by Resilience NSW – was kept secret from the media and locals.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/19/hopes-tha…
# NSW, Homelessness, Housing market, Planning and development, State Government.Greens counciller criticised for encouraging squatting
The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)A Greens councillor has sparked backlash after encouraging homeless Queenslanders to squat in homes amid the state's rental crisis.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/greens-counciller-criticised-for…
# Video Australia, Rent, Homelessness.Chinese home owners boycotting mortgage payments as economy sinks
Daisuke Wakabayashi The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)For decades, buying property was considered a safe investment in China. Now, instead of building a foundation of wealth for the country’s middle class, real estate has become a source of discontent and anger. In more than 100 cities across China, hundreds of thousands of Chinese home owners are banding together and refusing to repay loans on unfinished properties, one of the most widespread acts of public defiance in a country where even minor protests are quelled.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/chinese-homeowners-b…
# International, Home ownership, Landlords and agents.Lower house prices could trap borrowers in expensive mortgages
John Collett The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Those who have not paid off a decent part of their mortgage should make sure it has a competitive interest rate now, as falling house prices will make it more difficult to refinance to a cheaper loan later. Sally Tindall, research director at RateCity, says as property prices fall, more borrowers will find themselves with less bargaining power, and they should look around now for a better deal before it is too late. Also read Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon's opinion piece entitled: 'Rate "wriggle room" has given way to a secret mortgage discounting war' in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/money/borrowing/rate-wriggle-room-has-given-way-to-a-secret-mortgage-discounting-war-20220819-p5bb6l.html]
https://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/lower-house-prices-could-…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.Ambitious plans to build towers over railway lines at Central Station revealed
Matt O'Sullivan The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Buildings up to 34 storeys, plazas and a pedestrian avenue separating towers will be constructed over busy rail lines at Central Station under plans for an $11 billion redevelopment aimed at reshaping the southern end of Sydney’s CBD. ... While about half of the new buildings will be for offices, 850 apartments are planned for the site, about 15 per cent of which will be deemed affordable housing. A further 15 per cent is earmarked for so-called diverse housing ranging from student to build-to-rent accommodation.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/ambitious-plans-to-build-tow…
# NSW, Housing market, Local Government, Planning and development, State Government, Students.Development sites being offered to ease housing affordability concerns
Carolyn Cummins The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Private investors are selling a significant mixed-use development site, with price expectations of $80 million, on Sydney’s northern beaches that will allow a buyer to create more affordable housing in the tightly held precinct. The area across the Spit Bridge has historically had high land values and a significant undersupply of available land with the kind of floor space ratios and building height limits that are capable of providing high-density living. Housing affordability has become a significant issue for both the NSW government and nationally. During the 2022 federal election campaign, now Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Labor would build 30,000 affordable homes over five years.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/development-sites-bein…
# NSW, Affordable housing, Landlords and agents.Eastern suburbs proposal lets neighbours cut trees blocking water views
Andrew Taylor The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Residents in Sydney’s eastern suburbs can demand their neighbours and the local council prune trees blocking views under a plan that opponents say will lead to neighbourhood disputes. Waverley councillors this month voted on changes to the tree management policy that stops new trees from blocking pre-existing views and requires council officers to consider cutting back trees that have been pruned in the past.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/eastern-suburbs-proposal-let…
# NSW, Local Government, Neighbours.