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
With the cost of living on the rise, people opting to live in caravans is increasing, but now there's a new concern.
Stacey Lee and Nikolai Beilharz, ABC (No paywall)The 2007 Residential Act deems Christies Beach and Moana Beach Caravan Parks 'holiday parks'. Tourists can only remain in one caravan park for a specific time limit. Mayor of Onkaparinga Council, Simon McMahon told Nikolai Beilharz & Stacey Lee, "We have made 15 per cent of our parks residential". (ABC Radio Adelaide)
https://www.abc.net.au/adelaide/programs/breakfast/caravan-park-…
# Audio Australia, Land lease communities, Housing affordability, Housing market.Premium real estate leads regional house price fall as ANZ tips 18pc nationwide property slump
Michael Janda ABC (No paywall)Australia's housing market is set to drop 18 per cent, according to one major bank, and new data shows regional areas are joining Sydney and Melbourne in the slide. Also, read Shane Wright's article entitled: 'House prices could fall 20 per cent as rates bite: ANZ' in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/house-prices-could-fall-20-per-cent-as-rates-bite-anz-20220816-p5ba9x.html] Read Cameron Atfield's and Shane Wright's article entitled: 'Brisbane property prices tipped to fall more than 10% by the end of 2023' in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/brisbane-property-prices-tipped-to-fall-more-than-10-percent-by-the-end-of-2023-20220816-p5bacj.html].
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-17/premium-real-estate-leads…
# Australia, Housing market, Regional NSW.AHC awarded for excellence in urban development
(No paywall)On August 12, the Aboriginal Housing Company Limited (AHC) attended the UDIA Crown Group Awards for Excellence. The awards highlight innovation, sustainability, industry leadership and excellence in urban development across NSW and the ACT. The AHC was a finalist in three categories and won two – these being excellence in Social and Community Infrastructure, and Urban Renewal. (South Sydney Herald)
https://southsydneyherald.com.au/ahc-awarded-for-excellence-in-u…
# NSW, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Affordable housing, Landlords and agents.Skills shortage threatens UK eco-retrofit boom
David Thorpe The Fifth Estate (No paywall)Social and public sector housing projects are jumping on the UK government’s net zero by 2030 target to issue contracts to contractors. This month alone has seen action in Scotland, the Midlands and the south-west of England. However they are hampered by a skills shortage.
https://thefifthestate.com.au/innovation/residential-2/skills-sh…
# International, Public and community housing, Climate change, Work, employment.Housing blocks in Melbourne's outer suburbs getting smaller, as developers flag affordability issue
Margaret Paul ABC (No paywall)Housing blocks across Melbourne's sprawling outer suburbs are getting smaller, as developers say housing affordability is a huge issue for buyers. In Eynesbury, in the outer west, the average new housing block will reduce from 700 square metres to 410 square metres, after Melton City Council approved plans from the developer, Resimax.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-18/housing-blocks-melbourne-…
# Australia, Housing affordability, Housing market.In Wealthy City, a Marxist Mayor Wins Over Voters
Denise Hruby The New York Times (Paywall)Yes, this Communist politician in Graz, Austria, wants to redistribute wealth, but a focus on housing, her own modest lifestyle and a hard childhood have helped her popularity. ... As mayor, governing in a coalition with social democrats and greens, she now has more influence to steer policies in directions she favors. So far, that has included capping residential sewage and garbage fees as well as rents in city-owned housing. She has made thousands more residents eligible for heavily reduced annual passes for public transport.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/world/europe/graz-austria-com…
# International, Public and community housing, Rent, Utilities electricity water gas, Local Government.A few things hugely bizarre I've noted in property advertising in Australia
(No paywall)1. You don't have to state the size of the property in the ad. I found this to be the case especially with apartments (99% of cases). 2. A partition off the floor that is no more than a storage space, apparently is a bedroom in Australia. 3. "Range". So, when I was looking I made an offer at the top value of the range for a small apartment because I thought it was good value for money. 4. Energy efficiency and emissions ... it doesn't matter in Australia. 5. For sale by owner. These are so common in so many countries ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/AusFinance/comments/wlm52o/a_few_things…
# Australia, Utilities electricity water gas, Housing market.For one type of home, the property downturn is deeper than the rest
Kate Burke The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)More expensive homes are bearing the brunt of the property downturn, with new data showing prices are falling fastest at the upper end of the market. Price falls that began for higher-end homes in Sydney and Melbourne earlier this year have accelerated and spread, as rapidly rising interest rates curb borrowing power and put downward pressure on prices.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/for-one-type-of-home-the-pr…
# Australia, Housing affordability, Housing market.