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
The Curious Case of Australia's Rental Crisis
Robert Sobyra (No paywall)How is it possible that during a period where population growth was halved, vacancy rates fell below 1% in virtually every corner of the country? Chaos and confusion continue to reign across Australia’s rental markets. While some families have had to absorb huge rent increases, others have been forced to live out of cars and tents. Explaining this mess has been one of COVID’s great mysteries. (Linkedin)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/curious-case-australias-rental-cr…
# Australia, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.Government rejection of evacuation plans recommendation ‘strikes at heart’ of purpose of Grenfell Inquiry, lawyers say
Peter Apps Inside Housing (Paywall)Sam Stein QC, appearing on behalf of one group of bereaved family members and survivors of the fire, used part of his closing statement to criticise the recent Home Office proposal not to implement ‘personal emergency evacuation plans’ (PEEPs) for high-rise residents. These plans were recommended in October 2019, after the first phase of the inquiry heard evidence that many of the tower’s disabled occupants were unable to escape the blaze. The fire has since been described as a “landmark act of discrimination” against disabled and vulnerable residents, as it killed 40% of residents with a disability that hindered their ability to evacuate.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/government-rejection-of-eva…
# International, Public and community housing, Disability, Minimum habitability standards.Perth councillor moves for greater power to block new homeless shelters
Peter de Kruijff The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Homelessness services aiming to set up in the City of Perth would need to be reviewed by councillors under a proposed change to the local government’s planning schemes. Councillor Brent Fleeton has submitted a motion to this month’s council meeting that could mean anyone trying to open a community centre, including ones unrelated to homelessness, would face additional scrutiny.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/perth-homeless…
# Australia, Homelessness, Local Government, Planning and development.House prices are falling, but buyer beware of holding out for a better deal
Elizabeth Redman Domain (No paywall)Some property buyers are holding off in the hope of a better deal, but experts warn that trying to pick the bottom of the market has risks. Once-booming property prices have started to fall as rising interest rates reduce the amount home buyers can borrow, and major economists are forecasting double-digit drops. But buyers are likely to enjoy less choice as prices drop because home owners who don’t need to sell urgently might hold on to their properties until the market recovers.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/house-prices-are-falling-bu…
# Australia, Housing market.Elderly Australians receiving home care terrified of imminent increase in costs
Rachel Clayton ABC (No paywall)Brendon suffered a stroke almost two years ago, and since then, a carer like Sue has arrived each morning to help the 67-year-old get out of bed, shower and dress. But from July 1, Brendon and his wife Monica may need to fork out an extra $40,000 a year so Brendon can receive the same care, due to changes made for aged care workers by the Fair Work Commission. It is a change that will affect more than 200,000 elderly Australians who receive home care packages.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-23/home-care-costs-to-rise-u…
# Australia, Disability, Older people.The property type defying the downturn, for now
Kate Burke Domain (No paywall)Property prices for cheaper homes are holding up the best in Sydney and Melbourne’s cooling markets, while affordable homes are seeing the strongest growth in most other cities.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/the-property-type-defying-t…
# Australia, Affordable housing, Housing market.Saving lives not levies on old balcony balustrades
Jimmy Thompson (No paywall)There used to be a general principle in strata that even if your old balcony balustrades weren’t up to current standards, you didn’t need to fix them unless there was other major works going on in the block that required local council approval. The problem might be that the balustrades were too low, too easily climbed (with footholds for kids’ feet), or had gaps children could squeeze through. And the prevailing wisdom was that, unless the council knew about it, there was nothing you need do about it. That all changed last September, in NSW at least, when in a case before the NSW Civil Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) Appeals Board, an owner successfully argued that the owners corporation had a duty to bring common property up to scratch with current safety standards. (Flat Chat)
# NSW, Repairs, Strata, Tribunal NCAT, Minimum habitability standards.Sixty firefighters attend blaze near Grenfell Tower
Tim Clark Inside Housing (Paywall)One person has been taken to hospital with minor injuries after a fire broke out in a flat on the 12th floor of a tower block in Queensdale Crescent in Shepherd’s Bush. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) evacuated six people from the block, while a further three people left the flat before the brigade arrived on the scene. Other residents who were not affected by fire, heat or smoke were advised to remain in their flats. The LFB described the situation as under control, however the flat has been badly damaged by the fire.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/home/sixty-firefighters-att…
# International, .