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.
Our main email newsletter, Tenant News is sent once every two months. You can subscribe or update your subscription preferences for any of our email newsletters here.
See notes about the Digest and a list of other contributors here. Many thanks to those contributors for sharing links with us.
We love sharing the news and hope you find it informative! We're very happy to deliver it for free, but if you find it valuable, can you help cover the extra costs incurred by making a donation?
Archive
Housing is a right, not a luxury
Michelle Gegenhuber (No paywall)Thousands of South Australians are left out in the cold by a lack of public housing, rentals and skyrocketing real estate prices. Michelle Gegenhuber argues that action to provide a roof over people’s heads is good economic and social policy. Having a home is not a luxury. A safe place to call home is essential for every individual and family. As politicians transition out of campaign mode, and the nation settles into life under a new federal government, finding solutions to the housing crisis must remain front of mind. (In Daily)
https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2022/05/30/housing-is-a-right-not…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Rent, Affordable housing, Homelessness, Housing market.NSW premier willing to move residents from flood-prone areas of Lismore
Megan Gorrey, Tom Rabe and Heath Gilmore The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is willing to relocate residents in flood-prone areas of Lismore if an independent inquiry into this year’s flooding disaster recommends moving the town– a measure estimated to cost more than $1 billion.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-premier-willing-to-move-…
# NSW, Climate change, Housing market.St Kilda boarding house to be sold, 11 residents face eviction
Rachael Dexter The Age (Paywall)A heritage-listed St Kilda mansion that has, for decades, operated as a boarding house for at-risk Melburnians will be sold by a non-profit, evicting 11 long-term residents who fear they will end up homeless again. Launch Housing, one of the most prominent homelessness services in Victoria, recently announced the controversial decision to its staff, revealing the 14-bedroom, Princes Street home was “running at a financial loss” due to maintenance.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/st-kilda-boarding-ho…
# Australia, Boarders and lodgers, Eviction, Heritage listings.Perth homeless centre denied planning permission after community opposition
Emma Wynne ABC (No paywall)The City of Perth has refused an application to relocate a 63-year-old homeless drop-in centre 200 metres around the corner, with the Lord Mayor saying the CBD and Northbridge are already "disproportionately carrying the burden" of homelessness services.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-02/perth-homeless-centre-den…
# Australia, Homelessness, Local Government, Planning and development.Banks crack down on high debt-to-income home loans as regulator APRA comes knocking
Michael Janda ABC (No paywall)Two of Australia's biggest banks have moved to curb high-risk home lending, as the regulator revealed it has been warning some institutions to cut back on risky loans. ... APRA chairman Wayne Byres confirmed the regulator had contacted some banks with concerns about the level of high DTI loans they were issuing. "We will also be watching closely the experience of borrowers who have borrowed at high multiples of their income – a cohort that has grown notably over the past year." Also, check out the story entitled: 'Australian homebuyers and banks face risky period as inflation and interest rates accelerate' in 'The Guardian' at: [https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/31/australian-homebuyers-and-banks-face-risky-period-as-inflation-and-interest-rates-accelerate].
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-31/about-to-get-harder-to-ge…
# Australia, Housing market.Albany restaurant Liberte to install entrance gates to stop homeless people living on premises
Tim Wong-See ABC (No paywall)An Albany restaurant plans to install two entrance gates to stop homeless people living on the premises.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-31/liberte-restaurant-albany…
# Australia, Homelessness.Off-the-plan property buyers face ‘perfect storm’ as risks grow
John Collett The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Off-the-plan property buyers should check with their lender that their conditional loan approval will still be valid when it comes time to stump up the cash.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/off-the-plan-property-buy…
# Australia, Strata, Housing market.Granny flat blues – challenges and trends
Grant Arbuthnot Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)The housing crisis in NSW continues. One outcome of this has been an increase in the construction and occupation of ‘granny flats’. These are typically small, self-contained dwellings located in the backyard or back part of a larger house. Traditionally they were intended for use by an elderly relative, but in recent times they are often rented in the private rental market. All of the typical tenancy problems come up in relation to granny flats, as well as some additional challenges.
https://www.tenants.org.au/blog/granny-flat-blues-challenges-and…
# NSW, Rent, Granny flats, studios.