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
King Creek, NSW, among 170 regions to record median property price above $1 million for first time
Alexandra Jones ABC (No paywall)When Nick Slater started selling houses in King Creek on the NSW Mid North Coast a decade ago, a seven-figure price tag was "unthinkable". Now, he says, it is the new norm. ... King Creek is one of 170 regional house or unit markets across the nation to record a median value at or above $1 million for the first time.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-29/mid-north-coast-million-d…
# NSW, Housing affordability, Housing market, Regional NSW.When a bully takes over a small block
Jimmy Thompson (No paywall)There’s an easy and often erroneous assumption that’s often made – that living in a small block is more pleasant than life in a large one. Of course, for some that’s true. But when things go wrong in a small apartment building, every issue becomes very personal, very quickly. Take the Flatchatter who’s been living happily in her four-unit walk-up for nearly 10 years – until a bully moved in and took over. (Flat Chat)
# Australia, Strata.'I’m living in my car': Older people and homelessness in NSW
Robert Mowbray (No paywall)The Standing Committee on Social Issues of the New South Wales Legislative Council currently is conducting an Enquiry into 'Homelessness amongst older people aged over 55 in New South Wales'. You will find a link to the full submission by the Tenants’ Union of NSW here.
https://www.tenants.org.au/blog/im-living-my-car-older-people-an…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Rent, Affordable housing, Homelessness, No-grounds evictions, Older people, Personal stories, Pets, State Government, Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services, Women.Disappointing NSW budget fails to invest in public and community housing
Housing and Homelessness peaks Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)Yesterday’s 2022-23 NSW State Budget announcement has overlooked years of advocacy from the sector for greater state investment in affordable and social housing, committing to only 320 dwellings per year instead of the call for a minimum of 5000 per year. [Read on] Also, read Shelter NSW's comments and media release at: [https://mailchi.mp/shelternsw/nsw-budget-renters-ticketless-in-state-housing-lottery?e=91e8d836a5]
https://www.tenants.org.au/news/joint-media-release-disappointin…
# NSW, Domestic violence, Public and community housing, Rent, Disability, Homelessness, Young people.Alarm sounded over elder homelessness amid soaring rents
Caitlin Fitzsimmons The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The housing affordability crisis is the biggest driver of older people falling into homelessness, ahead of family violence and mental illness, and the problem is getting worse. That is the common theme in submissions to the NSW parliamentary inquiry on homelessness among older people aged over 55. Housing for the Aged Action Group chief executive Fiona York said she expected the problem of homelessness among older people would have worsened since the 2016 census, given the “ridiculous state of the rental market”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/alarm-sounded-over-elder-hom…
# NSW, Rent, Homelessness, State Government.Language, Stolen Generations sites, Indigenous housing among NSW budget winners
Jarred Cross (No paywall)The New South Wales treasurer has outlined a $716 million spend on Indigenous affairs in the State budget handed down on Tuesday. Headline figures include $15m for preservation of Stolen Generations sites, $44m for Indigenous language and $26m towards housing. NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the funding represented an “unparalleled” investment in our First Nations people. ... With a focus largely on housing and supporting first home buyers, the budget includes $150 million for 200 new and 260 upgraded homes for Indigenous people among climate resilience and energy saving efforts to tackle overcrowding and improve quality of life. (National Indigenous Times)
https://www.nit.com.au/language-stolen-generations-sites-indigne…
# NSW, Aboriginal renters, Climate change, Housing market, State Government.South Coast council begs holiday home owners to rent out properties as housing crisis escalates
Holly Tregenza and Fatima Olumee ABC (No paywall)A coastal New South Wales council is begging 7,500 holiday home owners from Canberra and Sydney to make their properties available to renters to ease the region's housing crisis. Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor Mathew Hatcher has written to a total of about 8,000 non-resident ratepayers who own homes along the South Coast, urging them to consider renting them out for one to two years while long-term solutions can be established. ... "We can't wait years for homes to be built. We need to address the lack of rental properties in our community right now." ... The shortage of affordable rental accommodation in the area has left more than 50 people living at a campground near Moruya because they have no alternative option. More than a third of all houses in the Eurobodalla are the second homes of people who permanently reside outside the area. Mr Hatcher said he wanted to avoid going down a regulatory route, like that being pursued in Byron Bay, where local councils reduce the number of days homes can be made available for short-term holiday stays.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-23/south-coast-council-asks-…
# NSW, Rent, Housing market, Regional NSW, Short-term holiday letting.NSW property tax: A guide to the First Home Buyer Choice scheme
Domain (No paywall)[This guide] outlines what changes have been announced so far and explains how the new property tax could work. It’s designed to provide general information on the proposed changes to keep people informed, and will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
https://www.domain.com.au/advice/guide-to-nsw-property-tax-10620…
# NSW, Home ownership, Housing market, State Government, Tax.