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
Promise of a big spend on social housing: Did the NSW budget deliver?
Jemima Mowbray (No paywall)Check the answer in the Tenants' Union of NSW blog 'This Renting Life': ‘Unfortunately yesterday's announcement on social housing investment was a little underwhelming.’
https://www.tenants.org.au/blog/promise-big-spend-social-housing…
# Must read NSW, Public and community housing, Tax.Outback NSW home sells for just $35,000, while some vacant blocks go under hammer for $1
Saskia Mabin ABC (No paywall)Getting into the property market as a first home buyer might seem like a daunting venture, but in outback New South Wales it can come as cheaply as $150. More than 80 properties went under the hammer across the far-west of New South Wales last week, with the most expensive purchase selling for just 3 per cent of Sydney's median house price.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-03/blocks-of-land-in-far-wes…
# Hot topic NSW, Housing market, Regional NSW.Pandemic, recession, closed borders: can anything stop the Australian housing juggernaut?
Martin Farrer The Guardian (No paywall)The world is gripped by the most serious pandemic for a century, the US presidency is facing transition, but at least one thing remains certain amid all the chaos: the Australian property market keeps going up.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/07/pandemic-…
# NSW, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.The factors beyond our four walls that affect the value of our home
Matt Johnson The New Daily (No paywall)Record-low interest rates and government incentives are enticing increasing numbers of Australians to return to the property market.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2020/11/06/buyer-gui…
# Hot topic NSW, Home ownership, Housing market.High-rise student housing planned for $900m Waterloo metro quarter
Megan Gorrey The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Plans to build more than 600 apartments in towers above the future Waterloo metro station in Sydney's inner south include high-rise accommodation for almost 500 students, according to new designs for the $900 million project. The NSW government's latest plans for the Waterloo "Metro Quarter" also include a new office building, as the metro rail line being built under the central city triggers more intensive development in Redfern and Waterloo.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/high-rise-student-housing-pl…
# NSW, Public and community housing, State Government, Students, Young people.Financial counsellors urge people to seek assistance ahead of JobSeeker, loan deferrals coming to an end
Rachel Clayton ABC (No paywall)During the worst recession Australia has seen in almost 100 years, you would think financial counsellors would be bombarded with calls. You'd be wrong. Despite the sharp economic downturn from the coronavirus pandemic, the phones are quiet. Financial counselling services are trying to encourage people across the country, especially in Victoria, to get ahead of the ball and reach out for help before cuts to JobKeeper and JobSeeker take effect and moratoriums on evictions and rent deferrals end.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-10/jobkeeper-jobseeker-sees-…
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction, Coronavirus COVID-19, Welfare, Young people.NSW government launches resource to improve design and delivery of social housing
Shannon Jenkins The Mandarin (No paywall)The New South Wales government has released new guidelines to better support tenants and communities through the design and delivery of high-quality social housing.
https://www.themandarin.com.au/142312-nsw-social-housing-resourc…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Planning and development, State Government.Tens of thousands made homeless despite UK ban on evictions during pandemic
Sarah Marsh and Amy Walker The Guardian (No paywall)United Kingdom: Tens of thousands of people have been made homeless since the start of the pandemic despite a ban on evictions, the Guardian has found, with charities warning that younger people are falling through the gaps.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/08/tens-thousands-h…
# Must read International, Eviction, Coronavirus COVID-19, Homelessness, Strong communities, Young people.