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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
Choosing to pay bills over pricey dentist visits. Australians reveal toll of dental care neglect amid cost of living crisis
Zena Chamas ABC (No paywall)Ayman Al Nabieh said he was forced to take out a high-interest loan to pay for his dental care. He resorted to seeking treatment overseas for cheaper options, but the flights and associated costs were too high. "This ordeal has been emotionally and financially draining," he shared with senators. "I urge the government to address these issues promptly, making healthcare more accessible and affordable for all Australians," he said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-30/dental-health-care-neglec…
# Must read Australia, .Australia at risk of Americanisation of homelessness crisis
Australian Property Markets News (No paywall)Homelessness rates in Australia are on track to match those in the United States unless a radical shift in housing policy occurs according to international homelessness expert, Associate Professor Gregg Colburn, from the University of Washington. Professor Colburn is the author of the new book, Homelessness is a Housing Problem, which outlines how escalating housing costs are increasing the number of homeless people across the United States. Housing all Australians in partnership with property industry groups and business leaders will host Professor Colburn on his Homelessness is a Housing Problem Australian tour in early September.
https://propertymarkets.news/australia-at-risk-of-americanisatio…
# Hot topic Australia, .Room listing highlights Sydney's rental market still in crisis despite easing housing demand
Miriah Davis 9 News (No paywall)A listing offering a bottom bunk bed for rent at an astonishing $370 a week has highlighted Sydney's rental market is showing no sign of reprieve despite rent rises easing in capital cities. The ad seeks a flatmate for a studio apartment in Glebe with the tenant explaining she only had need for the single bed on the top bunk. "I'm looking for a flatmate in a studio, I just need a single bed, the double one is available," the listing reads. The pictures show a single over double bunk bed next to a desk space and tiny dining table with two chairs for $370.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-rental-crisis-continues…
# Hot topic NSW, .Surge in new hotels as crackdown on Airbnbs in Byron looms
Julietta Jameson The Sydney Morning Herald (No paywall)On September 24 in northern NSW’s Byron Shire, the number of days short-term rental accommodation can be inhabited “unhosted” each year drops from 180 to 60. “Unhosted” means a stay at a property, usually booked through Airbnb or a similar platform, without the owners in situ. The NSW Government restrictions – both the 180-day limit brought in back in 2021 for nominated local government areas and the new 60-day limit in Byron – were instigated because of long-term rental shortages, a burgeoning housing stock dedicated to the holiday market and other critical issues, seen as co-related.
https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/travel-news/surge-in-new-hotels…
# Must read NSW, Rent.Landlords’ brutal snub after mum loses husband
Taylor Troeth news.com.au (No paywall)A single mum and business owner has revealed the surprising response she got from landlords and property agents after tragically losing her husband to a rare form of cancer. And it’s left her stuck in a $1000 per week rental that she says is far larger than she needs. Young mum Kayla Psaradellis said she discovered that property agents were imposing an unwritten requirement when she began looking for rentals and it’s left her and her two-year-old child at a disadvantage.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/renting/landlords-br…
# TUNSW in the media NSW, Rent.Sydney Landlords Are Now Charging Up To $250 For A Single Bed In A Grotty Shared Room
Lachlan Hodson Pedestrian (No paywall)A bunch of Sydney landlords have shown off their superhuman ability to stoop to new lows, this time by charging for rent per bed, instead of per room like most rentals. Somebody stop the planet, I’m getting off. As renters and governments look for solutions to Australia’s spiralling rental crisis, like Victoria increasing the minimum heating and cooling standards, a bunch of opportunistic landlords are doing what they can to add fuel to the fire.
https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/sydney-landlords-rent-per-bed
# Hot topic NSW, Rent.NSW Will (Finally) Ban No-Grounds Evictions — Here’s When And How The New Laws Will Hit
Lachlan Hodson Pedestrian (No paywall)The NSW Government has announced that it will be banning “no-grounds” evictions across the state from next year, finally making good on its commitment to ban the practise in last year’s election. The changes announced by NSW Premier Chris Minns are some of the biggest reforms to rental laws in NSW in a decade. No-grounds or no-fault evictions occur when a landlord decides to evict a tenant from their property in the 30 days prior to a fixed-lease ending, or with 90 days warning for ongoing lease, for no reason. Under current laws, this type of eviction happens to someone in NSW every 18 minutes.
https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/no-grounds-evictions-nsw-ban-expl…
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction, Rent.‘Peace of mind’: NSW to end ‘no-grounds’ evictions as vacancy rates plummet
Nathan Schmidt news.com.au (No paywall)NSW Premier Chris Minns says new laws seeking to abolish “no-grounds” evictions will allow the state’s renters “to build a home and life on surer ground”, as historically low vacancy rates continue to worsen. Announced on Saturday, the laws seek to end the right of rental property owners to choose to end a lease “at any time or (with) no reason at all”, instead having to provide “commonsense or reasonable reasons”.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/renting/peace-of-min…
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction.