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
Aspiring property tycoon driven out of town by angry creditors
Harriet Alexander The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The billboard poster advertising “Mini Hamptons” prefabricated tiny houses still greets city refugees as they pass through Mittagong ... [But] the owner of Mini Hamptons, David York, has been run out of town by angry creditors and become the subject of an investigation by Fair Trading NSW after leaving at least six projects incomplete or so shoddily constructed they will have to be rebuilt. Its parent company, York Building, went into liquidation in December owing $6.4 million to at least 50 creditors.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/aspiring-property-tycoon-dri…
# NSW, Affordable housing, Housing market.Missing Mascot papers prove value of the Hub
Jimmy Thompson (No paywall)As if the former residents of Mascot Towers in Sydney weren’t doing it tough enough, last month they received another blow and it’s one that smacks of local government incompetence, with maybe even a whiff of potential corruption. As the NSW government cranks up an investigation into what led to the emergency evacuation three years ago this month of the 10-storey, 132-apartment block, it has emerged that vital documents relating to the approvals for the building have gone missing. (Flat Chat)
# NSW, Strata, Housing market, Local Government, Minimum habitability standards.Tasmanian councils probe using empty buildings to shelter homeless
Isabella Podwinski ABC (No paywall)High living costs and rising rents have forced many Tasmanians out onto the street or into precarious living situations. While the state government has promised 10,000 new public housing homes by 2032, there are concerns for people who need a roof over their heads now. Two councils are taking matters into their own hands and are looking at how unused or council-owned buildings can be used for short-term emergency accommodation.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-27/councils-probe-ways-to-co…
# Australia, Homelessness, Local Government.Cheap loans boost buying but interest rates spell trouble
Shane Wright The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Australians used record-low interest rates through the COVID-19 recession to buy into the housing market without putting pressure on their family budgets but are now financially exposed as the cost of borrowing rapidly increases.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cheap-loans-boost-buying…
# Australia, Housing affordability, Housing market.Airbnb to make global party ban permanent
The Guardian (No paywall)Airbnb is making its ban on parties at properties listed on the site for short-term rentals permanent, the company announced on Tuesday.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jun/28/airbnb-global…
# International, Short-term holiday letting.Regional towns set for ‘growing pains’ as young people abandon cities
Sezen Bakan The New Daily (No paywall)Young people are trading city lights for starry night skies as exorbitant property prices and more working from home encourage a move to regional areas. ... [A new CBA and Regional Australia Institute] report found the biggest outflows of residents were from the major cities of Sydney and Melbourne, with most people heading to regional New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. ... Real estate agents told The New Daily the influx of new residents had driven up rents and house prices in regional towns and cities.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2022/06/28/regional-…
# Research alert Australia, Rent, Housing market, Planning and development, Regional NSW, Young people.Elderly landlord finally banned after five separate convictions
Ryan Bembridge (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Landlord Jack Collins has been banned from letting out properties after being fined multiple times for enabling his homes to fall into drastic states of disrepair. Among the offences across his Leeds portfolio are leaving exposed wires, failing to maintain fire alarms and leaving tenants with no hot water – leading to five separate prosecutions. (Property Investor Post)
https://propertyinvestorpost.com/elderly-landlord-finally-banned…
# International, Landlords and agents.ACT government uses 'call-in' powers to push forward with development of social housing in affluent Canberra suburb
Antoinette Radford ABC (No paywall)The ACT Planning Minister has used special powers to approve a home in Canberra's north for vulnerable women, including those fleeing domestic violence, after residents from the affluent suburb had the initial application approval overturned. Canberra's YWCA had planned to build 10 stand-alone apartments in the Canberra suburb of Ainslie to shelter older women experiencing homelessness and women and children escaping domestic violence.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-29/act-planning-minister-cal…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Homelessness, Women.