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
What matters is the home: review finds most retirees well off, some very badly off
Helen Hodgson The Conversation (No paywall)The government’s Retirement Incomes Review paints an encouraging picture of the finances of retired Australians. Most are at least as well off in retirement as they were while working, and most are more financially satisfied and less financially-stressed than Australians of working age. But not all. The huge exception is retirees who do not own their own homes. Whereas very few retired home owners are in poverty, most retired renters are.
https://theconversation.com/what-matters-is-the-home-review-find…
# Must read Australia, Rent, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Older people.The lived experience of COVID-19: housing and household resilience
Ralph Horne, Nicola Willand, Louise Dorignon and Bhavna Middha AHURI (No paywall)Researchers from RMIT University investigated housing outcomes during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluated the complex interrelated impacts on Australian households with a range of vulnerabilities such as; poor housing quality and location; housing affordability; energy poverty and a range of social, mental and physical health conditions.
https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/345?utm_source=w…
# Australia, Utilities electricity water gas, Coronavirus COVID-19, Health, Housing affordability, Housing market, Welfare.Biden administration will bring new focus on housing — and possibly new funding as well
Ida Moiadad (No paywall)From the United States ... Tackling housing affordability may return as a national priority next year, with President-elect Joe Biden’s plans calling for zoning changes and sizable federal investments — assuming he can get the latter through Congress. (San Francisco Examiner)
https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/biden-administration-will-bring-…
# International, Housing affordability.Eviction ban and grant programme for renters needed as evictions set to hit 350,000 this winter, charity warns
Dominic Brady Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Social and private renters need support via a “watertight” eviction ban and a targeted grant programme to prevent 350,000 evictions this winter, with arrears expected to near half a billion pounds in the coming months, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has said.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/eviction-ban-and-grant-prog…
# International, Public and community housing, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.The pandemic has made it clear that housing is England's greatest divide
Owen Hatherley The Guardian (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Coronavirus has highlighted the gap between owners and tenants – and how politicians are failing to close it.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/17/pandemic-h…
# Must read International, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.Renters in Victoria soon won’t have to deal with dodgy heaters and insulation. Now other states must get energy-efficient’
Alan Pears The Conversation (No paywall)Renters will no longer have to contend with poorly insulated homes and Victoria will move closer towards 7-star home efficiency standards under a A$797 million plan announced this week. It’s purportedly the biggest energy efficiency scheme in any Australian state’s history.
https://theconversation.com/renters-in-victoria-soon-wont-have-t…
# Australia, Rent, Utilities electricity water gas.Fixed rate home loans are at their lowest ever — but they come with a catch
David Taylor ABC (No paywall)If you lose your job, sell your home, or are hit with significant ongoing unexpected expenses, a fixed rate loan can turn into a nightmare.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-18/fixed-term-interest-rates…
# Australia, Home ownership, Homelessness.“Time of reckoning”: Loan deferrals falling but warnings worst to come
Charlotte Grieve The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh says home and business owners will have to make tough choices next year as loan deferral plans and government stimulus packages come to an end.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/time-of-reck…
# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.