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
As fixed mortgages end and rates rise, many risk losing their homes
Nassim Khadem ABC (No paywall)Sarah Ibrahim is worried about what will happen when her fixed rate ends in January. Ms Ibrahim and her partner took on a home loan of more than $1.5 million in Sydney, with a deposit of 10 per cent. They are among almost 40 per cent of Australians with mortgages who have locked in ultra-low fixed rates and will roll off them as soon as next year, and potentially face a world of financial pain.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-23/homeowners-interest-rate-…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.Plans for a new ombudsman and ‘no DSS’ ban included in private rent white paper
Tim Clark Inside Housing (Paywall)[The United Kingdom government has unveiled plans to launch a new ombudsman for private renters and ban landlords from refusing to rent properties to people on benefits, as part of a planned shake-up of the private rented sector. ... The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is set to publish its Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper later today, with the document proposing a number of reforms aimed at “redressing the balance” between landlords and the 11 million private rented sector tenants in England. Included in this are previously mooted plans to ensure that advertisements including “no DSS or benefits” are consigned to the past, as well as overhauling the Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction process. ... A new Private Renters’ Ombudsman will be created to enable disputes between private renters and landlords to be settled quickly, at low cost, and without going to court. ... Other measures include making it easier for tenants to have much-loved pets in their homes, by giving all tenants the right to request a pet in their house, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. You will find the 'key take aways' by 'Inside Housing' reporters at: [https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insight/renters-reform-white-paper-the-key-takeaways-76131] Read Stephen Delahunty's article entitled: '"A game-changer": sector reacts to PRS white paper' in 'Inside Housing' at: [https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insight/a-game-changer-sector-reacts-to-prs-white-paper-76133] Read Alicia Kennedy's article entitled: 'At last, the government is clamping down on England’s rogue landlords' in 'The Guardian' at: [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/17/government-clamping-down-england-rogue-landlords-michael-gove-rented-council-houses]. Read Liam Geraghty's article entitled: 'What is the Renters Reform Bill and how will it change things for renters?' in 'The Big Issue' at: [https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/what-is-the-renters-reform-bill-and-how-will-it-change-things-for-renters/] Here you read: 'There is no set time limit for when the bill will come into force and it will now be scrutinised by peers and MPs as it makes its way through parliament. The legislation must now pass through multiple stages in the House of Lords and the House of Commons before making it into law. Shelter chief executive Polly Neate warned the plans “must keep their teeth” as they move through parliament.' You can read the White Paper at: [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-deal-for-private-renters-published-today]
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/plans-for-a-new-ombuds…
# Must read, New policy announcement International, Discrimination, Public and community housing, Rent, Tribunal NCAT, Local Government, No-grounds evictions, Pets, Welfare.About IUT: Promoting tenants’ rights since 1926
International Union of Tenants (No paywall)International Union of Tenants (IUT) is a non-governmental and not-for-profit membership organisation for global tenants’ organisations. IUT was founded in 1926 in Zürich, Switzerland. Since 1956 our head office is in Stockholm, Sweden with a representative office in Brussels since 2008. We have 72 member organisations in 47 countries [including the Tenants' Union of NSW and other tenant organisations across Australia], and are financed through membership fees. [Read on]
# Must read International, Campaigns and law reform.June 2022 News
Shelter NSW (No paywall)In this month's edition:
'Short Term Rental Accommodation’ (STRA) – more localised approaches to regulation required
Shelter NSW commenting on planning – Orange, Willoughby, Bays West Precinct
New Research - social housing wait times ballooning as scarce social housing is ‘rationed’
Boarding Houses – continuing to be in the news (for all the wrong reasons)
Climate-ready housing – Make Insulation Sexy Again, and the looming insurance crisis
Yasmar - Historic Aboriginal land claim settled
Community Concern – Coffs Harbour public housing
‘Build Homes, Build Hope’ - John Engeler at the Vinnies Social Justice Forum
Shelter NSW’s new digs - Yirranma Place, 'where people meet to create'
Shelter NSW supporting better housing and planning outcomes for Aboriginal communities across NSW
https://mailchi.mp/shelternsw/shelter-nsw-june-2022-ebulletin?e=…
# NSW, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Campaigns and law reform, Climate change, Planning and development, Short-term holiday letting.Landlords Will Be Forced To Allow Tenants To Have Pets
Anish Vij (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Landlords will soon be forced to allow tenants the legal right to have pets in their rented homes. Dog and cat lovers - brace yourselves - as this could be an absolute game changer. Having a pet in your home can massively lift your mood after a stressful day at work and, all in all, can provide the best company while being a wonderful household companion. (Lad Bible)
https://www.ladbible.com/news/landlords-will-be-forced-to-allow-…
# International, Rent, No-grounds evictions, Pets.New South Wales government announces $780 million shared-equity scheme to address housing affordability
Heath Parkes-Hupton ABC (No paywall)Frontline workers, single parents and older single people will be eligible for a shared-equity scheme to assist in buying a home under a NSW government plan. The state government has committed $780.4 million to the program, which closely resembles a policy brought to the federal election by the Albanese government. It would see the state government contribute up to 40 per cent of equity for a new home, or 30 per cent for an existing property. Teachers, nurses, police officers, single parents and single people aged 50 years and over would be eligible for the shared-equity scheme. ... Initially, the government will help in the purchase of 3,000 homes per year, but Mr Perrottet said that could be expanded if the program was successful. Also, read Tom Rabe's article entitled: 'NSW to trial shared equity scheme to help nurses, teachers buy homes in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-to-trial-shared-equity-scheme-to-help-nurses-teachers-buy-homes-20220619-p5auva.html]. Read Phoebe Loomes's article entitled: 'NSW to introduce ‘shared equity’ scheme to boost home ownership' in 'The New Daily' at: [https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/nsw/2022/06/19/nsw-housing-shared-equity/]. Read Christopher Knaus's article entitled: 'New South Wales to trial $780m shared equity scheme for first homebuyers' in 'The Guardian' at: ['https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/19/new-south-wales-to-trial-780m-shared-equity-scheme-for-first-homebuyers] This last article provides the most thorough critique of the proposal's limitation.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-19/nsw-government-shared-equ…
# NSW, Home ownership, Housing affordability, State Government.If you’re renting, chances are your home is cold. With power prices soaring, here’s what you can do to keep warm
Cynthia Faye Isley, Emma Baker, Lyrian Daniel and Trivess Moor The Conversation (No paywall)If you’re feeling the cold this winter, you’re not alone. About a quarter of all Australians have trouble keeping their homes warm enough in winter. That figure is likely to soar this year, due to poor quality housing and the rapidly escalating energy crisis. Renters are particularly at risk, but our research has shown many home owners are in the same boat as well. We’ve collected data over the last few years on how many Australians have cold homes, find it difficult to stay warm, and can’t afford their heating bills. ... Low income renters face real threats from energy poverty this year. While we need systemic change to improve the outlook for Australia’s renters, there are low-cost DIY ways to improve how your house retains heat this winter.
https://theconversation.com/if-youre-renting-chances-are-your-ho…
# Research alert Australia, Rent, Utilities electricity water gas, Health, Home ownership, Minimum habitability standards.Switching to renewable energy: the rebates and incentives on offer to Australian households
Caitlin Cassidy The Guardian (No paywall)Power shortages are threatening the east coast as energy prices soar and demand is high due to an extended winter cold snap. The electricity uncertainty and increasing bills may prompt consumers to consider their options and accelerate the uptake of renewable energy. That’s something state and federal governments are trying to encourage with a number of rebates and incentives available. So here’s what’s on offer for those who want to adopt the latest technology while bringing down your power bill. ... Unfortunately, limited options are available for renters to decarbonise and drive down power bills via renewables.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/16/switching…
# Australia, Rent, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change, Federal Government, State Government.