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
House prices are falling, but buyer beware of holding out for a better deal
Elizabeth Redman Domain (No paywall)Some property buyers are holding off in the hope of a better deal, but experts warn that trying to pick the bottom of the market has risks. Once-booming property prices have started to fall as rising interest rates reduce the amount home buyers can borrow, and major economists are forecasting double-digit drops. But buyers are likely to enjoy less choice as prices drop because home owners who don’t need to sell urgently might hold on to their properties until the market recovers.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/house-prices-are-falling-bu…
# Australia, Housing market.Elderly Australians receiving home care terrified of imminent increase in costs
Rachel Clayton ABC (No paywall)Brendon suffered a stroke almost two years ago, and since then, a carer like Sue has arrived each morning to help the 67-year-old get out of bed, shower and dress. But from July 1, Brendon and his wife Monica may need to fork out an extra $40,000 a year so Brendon can receive the same care, due to changes made for aged care workers by the Fair Work Commission. It is a change that will affect more than 200,000 elderly Australians who receive home care packages.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-23/home-care-costs-to-rise-u…
# Australia, Disability, Older people.The property type defying the downturn, for now
Kate Burke Domain (No paywall)Property prices for cheaper homes are holding up the best in Sydney and Melbourne’s cooling markets, while affordable homes are seeing the strongest growth in most other cities.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/the-property-type-defying-t…
# Australia, Affordable housing, Housing market.Saving lives not levies on old balcony balustrades
Jimmy Thompson (No paywall)There used to be a general principle in strata that even if your old balcony balustrades weren’t up to current standards, you didn’t need to fix them unless there was other major works going on in the block that required local council approval. The problem might be that the balustrades were too low, too easily climbed (with footholds for kids’ feet), or had gaps children could squeeze through. And the prevailing wisdom was that, unless the council knew about it, there was nothing you need do about it. That all changed last September, in NSW at least, when in a case before the NSW Civil Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) Appeals Board, an owner successfully argued that the owners corporation had a duty to bring common property up to scratch with current safety standards. (Flat Chat)
# NSW, Repairs, Strata, Tribunal NCAT, Minimum habitability standards.Sixty firefighters attend blaze near Grenfell Tower
Tim Clark Inside Housing (Paywall)One person has been taken to hospital with minor injuries after a fire broke out in a flat on the 12th floor of a tower block in Queensdale Crescent in Shepherd’s Bush. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) evacuated six people from the block, while a further three people left the flat before the brigade arrived on the scene. Other residents who were not affected by fire, heat or smoke were advised to remain in their flats. The LFB described the situation as under control, however the flat has been badly damaged by the fire.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/home/sixty-firefighters-att…
# International, .As fixed mortgages end and rates rise, many risk losing their homes
Nassim Khadem ABC (No paywall)Sarah Ibrahim is worried about what will happen when her fixed rate ends in January. Ms Ibrahim and her partner took on a home loan of more than $1.5 million in Sydney, with a deposit of 10 per cent. They are among almost 40 per cent of Australians with mortgages who have locked in ultra-low fixed rates and will roll off them as soon as next year, and potentially face a world of financial pain.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-23/homeowners-interest-rate-…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.Plans for a new ombudsman and ‘no DSS’ ban included in private rent white paper
Tim Clark Inside Housing (Paywall)[The United Kingdom government has unveiled plans to launch a new ombudsman for private renters and ban landlords from refusing to rent properties to people on benefits, as part of a planned shake-up of the private rented sector. ... The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is set to publish its Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper later today, with the document proposing a number of reforms aimed at “redressing the balance” between landlords and the 11 million private rented sector tenants in England. Included in this are previously mooted plans to ensure that advertisements including “no DSS or benefits” are consigned to the past, as well as overhauling the Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction process. ... A new Private Renters’ Ombudsman will be created to enable disputes between private renters and landlords to be settled quickly, at low cost, and without going to court. ... Other measures include making it easier for tenants to have much-loved pets in their homes, by giving all tenants the right to request a pet in their house, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. You will find the 'key take aways' by 'Inside Housing' reporters at: [https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insight/renters-reform-white-paper-the-key-takeaways-76131] Read Stephen Delahunty's article entitled: '"A game-changer": sector reacts to PRS white paper' in 'Inside Housing' at: [https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insight/a-game-changer-sector-reacts-to-prs-white-paper-76133] Read Alicia Kennedy's article entitled: 'At last, the government is clamping down on England’s rogue landlords' in 'The Guardian' at: [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/17/government-clamping-down-england-rogue-landlords-michael-gove-rented-council-houses]. Read Liam Geraghty's article entitled: 'What is the Renters Reform Bill and how will it change things for renters?' in 'The Big Issue' at: [https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/what-is-the-renters-reform-bill-and-how-will-it-change-things-for-renters/] Here you read: 'There is no set time limit for when the bill will come into force and it will now be scrutinised by peers and MPs as it makes its way through parliament. The legislation must now pass through multiple stages in the House of Lords and the House of Commons before making it into law. Shelter chief executive Polly Neate warned the plans “must keep their teeth” as they move through parliament.' You can read the White Paper at: [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-deal-for-private-renters-published-today]
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/plans-for-a-new-ombuds…
# Must read, New policy announcement International, Discrimination, Public and community housing, Rent, Tribunal NCAT, Local Government, No-grounds evictions, Pets, Welfare.About IUT: Promoting tenants’ rights since 1926
International Union of Tenants (No paywall)International Union of Tenants (IUT) is a non-governmental and not-for-profit membership organisation for global tenants’ organisations. IUT was founded in 1926 in Zürich, Switzerland. Since 1956 our head office is in Stockholm, Sweden with a representative office in Brussels since 2008. We have 72 member organisations in 47 countries [including the Tenants' Union of NSW and other tenant organisations across Australia], and are financed through membership fees. [Read on]
# Must read International, Campaigns and law reform.