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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
NRAS tenants face rising rents as affordable rental scheme winds down
Lucy Stone ABC (No paywall)Thousands of low-income renters are facing burgeoning rents as the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) winds up, even as the federal government launches a suite of housing policies to tackle Australia's housing crisis. ... "Tenants that may not have been considered homeless now fall into that category, because there is absolutely nowhere for them to go."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-17/queensland-tenants-face-h…
# Australia, Rent, Affordable housing, Homelessness.Disputes between landlords and tenants becoming common during rental crisis
Elias Clure ABC (No paywall)The rental crisis shows no signs of abating - in some parts of the country it has never been harder to find somewhere to live. While rents are going up, house prices are going down - pitting tenants and landlords against each other. (ABC 7.30 Report) Also read the article by same journalist 'Owner of seven properties says landlords getting a raw deal' at: [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-15/owner-of-seven-properties-says-landlords-are-getting-a-raw-deal/101329536]
https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/disputes-between-landlords-and-tenan…
# Australia, Rent, Landlords and agents.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.