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
Airbnb has permanently banned parties at its listings. Here's what to know before you book
Dannielle Maguire ABC (No paywall)Airbnb has permanently banned all parties from its holiday rentals, extending a set of measures that were put in place to stop large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's what you need to know before making your next booking.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-01/airbnb-party-ban-booking-…
# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Short-term holiday letting.‘The property market is disgraceful’: why bosses are renting homes to staff
Suzanne Bearne The Guardian (No paywall)From Scotland ... Some bosses are taking action amid claims sites such as Airbnb are pricing workers out of housing. Kevin McGhee doesn’t want to become a residential landlord but the publican feels he has been left with no choice. With his staff often struggling to find accommodation, the owner of three pubs in Edinburgh is hunting for a two-bedroom flat to buy to accommodate his employees. ... The House of Lords is currently running an inquiry into short-term lettings, weighing up whether to propose legislation for a licensing scheme in England. In Wales, the government is making it less attractive to own a second home with council tax premiums on such properties set to increase to 300% from April 2023, while the number of days holiday homes must be let before being liable for council tax will increase.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/jul/02/property-market-bo…
# International, Rent, Housing affordability, Housing market, Landlords and agents, Short-term holiday letting, Work, employment.Ofsted-style inspections will not happen, says ITV journalist behind repairs investigation
Grainne Cuffe Inside Housing (Paywall)Ofsted-style inspections of social landlords will “not happen” and changes to the English regulator and sector’s culture are most important to implementing widespread improvements, the journalist who led ITV’s 18-month investigation into poor social housing conditions has said.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/home/ofsted-style-inspectio…
# International, Public and community housing, Repairs.Air flows, draught sealing and double glazing: how homeowners can retrofit houses for warmth
Christopher Knaus The Guardian (No paywall)Methods of keeping living spaces warm range from cheap gap-sealing to expensive double-glazing, but the first step is to find and see the problem
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jul/03/air-flows…
# Australia, Utilities electricity water gas, Minimum habitability standards.How much does it cost to buy a home in the world’s most liveable cities?
Melissa Heagney Domain (No paywall)The world’s most liveable cities have a lot in common: great cultural experiences, a walkable environment, and healthcare and education options. Many also have highly desirable property markets that boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people looked to work from home.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/how-much-does-it-cost-to-bu…
# International, Housing market, International.Home values drop as interest rates, costs of living squeeze buyers
Rachel Clun Domain (No paywall)Home values fell nationally for the second month in a row, driven by declines in Sydney and Melbourne, and are expected to fall further as interest rates rise, reducing buyers’ borrowing power and stifling consumer spending. Also, read Sue Lannin's and Rhiana Whitson's article entitled: 'Home prices drop for the second month in a row as Reserve Bank's aggressive interest rate rises hit hard' on the ABC at: [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-01/property-prices-interest-rates-home-values-reserve-bank/101198708] Read Sezen Bakan's article entitled: 'Sydney and Melbourne lead accelerating housing downturn' in 'The New Daily' at: [https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2022/07/01/house-prices-fall-cities/]
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/home-values-drop-as-interes…
# Australia, Housing market.How first home buyers can get help to spend $100,000 more at auction
Kate Burke Domain (No paywall)Forty thousand more first home buyers and single parents can now purchase a home with a minimal deposit under an expanded scheme that experts say will prop up prices. Aspiring home owners can get into the market sooner, and purchase more expensive homes with a smaller deposit, under the federal government’s expanded Home Guarantee Scheme and increased property price caps that start on Friday.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/how-first-home-buyers-can-g…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.Will housing become any more affordable this year?
Tawar Razaghi Domain (No paywall)Home buyers are unlikely to see housing affordability improve because rising interest rates will cancel the benefit of modest price falls, economists said. So far, dwelling values have slipped only modestly even though the cash rate has jumped and fast-rising rates and their impact on repayments are outpacing any affordability improvements from falling prices.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/will-housing-become-any-mor…
# Australia, Housing affordability, Housing market.