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
NSW Govt announces $4 million over 4 years extra funding for improved access to advice and advocacy for tenants
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)
The NSW Government announced it has boosted funding for Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services by $1 million annually until 2028, increasing the 2024-25 budget to $16.2 million. The Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Program consists of 21 local organisations across NSW, handling around 30,000 requests for tenancy advice each year. The network of services provides invaluable support to renters, assisting them to navigate the rental sector. Through advice, representation and community education advice services assist to resolve issues early and spread awareness of legal rights and responsibilities.
https://www.tenants.org.au/reports/nsw-govt-announces-4-million-…
# Must read, TUNSW in the media NSW, .NSW Government figures reveal 2468 social housing properties sitting empty as waitlist tops 60,000
David Barwell Daily Telegraph (Paywall)Nearly 2500 social housing properties are sitting empty across NSW amid a cost of living crisis that has sent the number of people on the waitlist soaring. NSW Government data has revealed 2468 social housing properties were vacant as of August 2024, at a time when 61,563 people are waiting for social housing in NSW – up from 57,411 just 12 months ago. Parramatta had the overall highest number of empty homes, with 332 social housing properties vacant across the council area as of August. Campbelltown had 240, the City of Sydney had 192, Blacktown had 190, Canterbury-Bankstown had 154, Wollongong had 129 and Newcastle had 107. One renter, who lives in the Blacktown area and has been on the social housing waiting list for 10 years, said she was “shocked” by the figures.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/nsw-government-figur…
# Hot topic, Research alert NSW, Public and community housing.Construction begins on NSW’s first 3D-printed social housing project
NSW Government (No paywall)The Minns Labor Government continues to use innovative methods to solve the housing crisis with construction now underway on the state’s first 3D-printed social housing properties in Dubbo. The development will transform a vacant block of land into two modern two-bedroom duplexes for Aboriginal social housing tenants. This innovative method of construction will reduce costs and cut construction time in half, delivering more homes sooner for those who need them. The success of the project will help determine whether this modern method of construction can deliver much needed social and affordable homes across the state more quickly and sustainably.
https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/construction-begins-on-nsw…
# Hot topic NSW, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Rent.Real estate agent who published identity of NSW tenant after one-star Google review broke privacy laws, commission finds
Cait Kelly The Guardian (No paywall)A New South Wales real estate agent who exposed the personal details of a tenant who left a bad Google review broke privacy laws, Australia’s information commission has found. After the tenant, who has not been named for legal reasons, gave Noonan Real Estate Agency a one-star review in 2021, the agency responded by disclosing his full name, occupation and financial circumstances, according to a written decision. The one-star review questioned how many of the five-star reviews were fake, before saying the agency had not responded to an emergency repair request for three days.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/08/noona-rea…
# Must read NSW, Rent.NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson underestimates Sydney rent prices
Rosemary Bolger ABC (No paywall)NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson has suggested it is possible to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Sydney for "a couple of hundred bucks" a week. During an interview on Tuesday morning about rental and housing affordability on ABC Radio Sydney, Ms Jackson was put on the spot by a question about rent prices. Presenter Hamish Macdonald asked: "What do you reckon is a reasonable price to pay in rent for a two-bedroom flat in Sydney?" Ms Jackson said it depended on where in Sydney before appearing to guess the answer.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-12/rose-jackson-housing-rent…
# Hot topic, TUNSW in the media NSW, Rent.VIDEO: NSW Rental Commissioner says decline in home ownership a 'call to action'
ABC ()NSW Rental Commissioner says the research into showing more renters are giving up on home ownership is a 'call to action' for policy makers.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-12/nsw-rental-commissioner-s…
# Hot topic, Video NSW, .LJ Hooker branch used AI to generate real estate listing with non-existent schools
Catie McLeod The Guardian (No paywall)The principal of a branch of one of Australia’s largest real estate companies has admitted using ChatGPT to generate property listings after a rental home was advertised as being close to two “excellent” schools that didn’t exist. LJ Hooker made the errors in the listing for a four-bedroom home it has advertised for rent in Farley, in the New South Wales Hunter region, which it corrected shortly after being contacted by Guardian Australia on Monday. The original listing, posted on the LJ Hooker website, Domain and realestate.com.au, said one of the property’s “standout features” was its “proximity to excellent educational institutions”.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/11/lj-hooker…
# Must read, Hot topic NSW, Starting a tenancy.3D printed properties get underway in Dubbo
Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) (No paywall)The 3D-print construction of two unique duplexes started in Dubbo today. The walls of the properties are being 3D printed in concrete, a move which is expected to slash traditional construction time from 40 weeks to just 16 weeks. The use of 3D printing is part of a broader strategy by the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) to boost the supply of affordable housing across NSW. Famey Williams, Chief Executive of the AHO, emphasised the significance of this project, “The Dubbo duplexes are an exciting opportunity for us to put innovative construction methods into practice. We know these methods can cut down build time significantly without sacrificing quality, which means more homes will be available sooner.”
https://www.aho.nsw.gov.au/news/3d-printed-properties-get-underw…
# Must read, Hot topic Australia, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing.