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
Indigenous-led supportive housing can be transformative
Lauren Brown, Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness, Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi and Julia O'Quinn The Conversation (No paywall)Look to any urban centre in Canada and you will find First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) peoples disproportionately experiencing homelessness. Look to any urban centre in Canada and you will find First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) peoples disproportionately experiencing homelessness. ... This pervasive trend is symptomatic of Canada’s intensifying housing crisis, coupled with the insidious impacts of past and present colonial policies. There is also a lack of housing models that take into consideration FNMI cultural knowledge and the voices of FNMI people. Looking to and learning from existing Indigenous-led and community-informed models may bring us one step closer to addressing this disparity.
https://theconversation.com/indigenous-led-supportive-housing-ca…
# International, Homelessness, Housing market, Race and ethnicity.'Forgotten' renters hope recent federal election will turn the tide for housing policies
Michael Atkin ABC (No paywall)Rosie Wallis has been renting her entire adult life, and she can't see that changing any time soon. She's only 33 years old, but she's already spent 15 years paying off other peoples' mortgages. ... According to figures from the just released 2021 Census, there are 2.8 million rental households, accounting for more than 30 per cent of the population. There were also almost one million Australian homes that were unoccupied on the night the census was conducted last August. Many of renters are coming under increasing financial pressure. Rents are skyrocketing, having increased by almost 10 per cent in the past 12 months, and low vacancy rates mean there's often little choice. ... The Albanese government has promised to build 30,000 social and affordable homes over five years. Labor will also establish a council to try to increase supply and affordability. Economist Brendan Coates calls it a big step forward, however, [Eirene Tsolidis Noyce from the Renters and Housing Union (RAHU) in Victoria] said much more was needed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-29/forgotten-renters-hope-fo…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Rent, Affordable housing, Federal Government.Mass social housing building needed, campaigners urge as house prices rocket 7.1 times annual average earnings
Peter Lazenby (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... A mass building programme of social housing is desperately needed, campaigners urged today after new figures showed that house prices were “rocketing” and reaching unaffordable levels. Mortgage lender Halifax said that a “typical” UK home now costs 7.1 times annual average earnings. It estimated that the “average earnings” of a full-time worker are £39,402, and the average house price is £239,281 — up 16.8 per cent since the start of the pandemic in 2020. ... National tenants’ union Acorn said the problem was forcing families into the hands of unscrupulous and exploitative private landlords. Acorn Head Organiser Nick Ballard told the Star: “With fewer people able to buy a home, and having to pay much more for the privilege, families are being forced into an under-regulated, insecure private rented sector and facing poor standards and the fear of eviction. (Morning Star)
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/mass-social-housing-bu…
# International, Public and community housing, Affordable housing, Landlords and agents.Aspiring property tycoon driven out of town by angry creditors
Harriet Alexander The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The billboard poster advertising “Mini Hamptons” prefabricated tiny houses still greets city refugees as they pass through Mittagong ... [But] the owner of Mini Hamptons, David York, has been run out of town by angry creditors and become the subject of an investigation by Fair Trading NSW after leaving at least six projects incomplete or so shoddily constructed they will have to be rebuilt. Its parent company, York Building, went into liquidation in December owing $6.4 million to at least 50 creditors.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/aspiring-property-tycoon-dri…
# NSW, Affordable housing, Housing market.Missing Mascot papers prove value of the Hub
Jimmy Thompson (No paywall)As if the former residents of Mascot Towers in Sydney weren’t doing it tough enough, last month they received another blow and it’s one that smacks of local government incompetence, with maybe even a whiff of potential corruption. As the NSW government cranks up an investigation into what led to the emergency evacuation three years ago this month of the 10-storey, 132-apartment block, it has emerged that vital documents relating to the approvals for the building have gone missing. (Flat Chat)
# NSW, Strata, Housing market, Local Government, Minimum habitability standards.Tasmanian councils probe using empty buildings to shelter homeless
Isabella Podwinski ABC (No paywall)High living costs and rising rents have forced many Tasmanians out onto the street or into precarious living situations. While the state government has promised 10,000 new public housing homes by 2032, there are concerns for people who need a roof over their heads now. Two councils are taking matters into their own hands and are looking at how unused or council-owned buildings can be used for short-term emergency accommodation.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-27/councils-probe-ways-to-co…
# Australia, Homelessness, Local Government.Cheap loans boost buying but interest rates spell trouble
Shane Wright The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Australians used record-low interest rates through the COVID-19 recession to buy into the housing market without putting pressure on their family budgets but are now financially exposed as the cost of borrowing rapidly increases.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cheap-loans-boost-buying…
# Australia, Housing affordability, Housing market.Airbnb to make global party ban permanent
The Guardian (No paywall)Airbnb is making its ban on parties at properties listed on the site for short-term rentals permanent, the company announced on Tuesday.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jun/28/airbnb-global…
# International, Short-term holiday letting.