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
June 2022 News
Shelter NSW (No paywall)In this month's edition:
'Short Term Rental Accommodation’ (STRA) – more localised approaches to regulation required
Shelter NSW commenting on planning – Orange, Willoughby, Bays West Precinct
New Research - social housing wait times ballooning as scarce social housing is ‘rationed’
Boarding Houses – continuing to be in the news (for all the wrong reasons)
Climate-ready housing – Make Insulation Sexy Again, and the looming insurance crisis
Yasmar - Historic Aboriginal land claim settled
Community Concern – Coffs Harbour public housing
‘Build Homes, Build Hope’ - John Engeler at the Vinnies Social Justice Forum
Shelter NSW’s new digs - Yirranma Place, 'where people meet to create'
Shelter NSW supporting better housing and planning outcomes for Aboriginal communities across NSW
https://mailchi.mp/shelternsw/shelter-nsw-june-2022-ebulletin?e=…
# NSW, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Campaigns and law reform, Climate change, Planning and development, Short-term holiday letting.Landlords Will Be Forced To Allow Tenants To Have Pets
Anish Vij (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Landlords will soon be forced to allow tenants the legal right to have pets in their rented homes. Dog and cat lovers - brace yourselves - as this could be an absolute game changer. Having a pet in your home can massively lift your mood after a stressful day at work and, all in all, can provide the best company while being a wonderful household companion. (Lad Bible)
https://www.ladbible.com/news/landlords-will-be-forced-to-allow-…
# International, Rent, No-grounds evictions, Pets.New South Wales government announces $780 million shared-equity scheme to address housing affordability
Heath Parkes-Hupton ABC (No paywall)Frontline workers, single parents and older single people will be eligible for a shared-equity scheme to assist in buying a home under a NSW government plan. The state government has committed $780.4 million to the program, which closely resembles a policy brought to the federal election by the Albanese government. It would see the state government contribute up to 40 per cent of equity for a new home, or 30 per cent for an existing property. Teachers, nurses, police officers, single parents and single people aged 50 years and over would be eligible for the shared-equity scheme. ... Initially, the government will help in the purchase of 3,000 homes per year, but Mr Perrottet said that could be expanded if the program was successful. Also, read Tom Rabe's article entitled: 'NSW to trial shared equity scheme to help nurses, teachers buy homes in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-to-trial-shared-equity-scheme-to-help-nurses-teachers-buy-homes-20220619-p5auva.html]. Read Phoebe Loomes's article entitled: 'NSW to introduce ‘shared equity’ scheme to boost home ownership' in 'The New Daily' at: [https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/nsw/2022/06/19/nsw-housing-shared-equity/]. Read Christopher Knaus's article entitled: 'New South Wales to trial $780m shared equity scheme for first homebuyers' in 'The Guardian' at: ['https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/19/new-south-wales-to-trial-780m-shared-equity-scheme-for-first-homebuyers] This last article provides the most thorough critique of the proposal's limitation.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-19/nsw-government-shared-equ…
# NSW, Home ownership, Housing affordability, State Government.If you’re renting, chances are your home is cold. With power prices soaring, here’s what you can do to keep warm
Cynthia Faye Isley, Emma Baker, Lyrian Daniel and Trivess Moor The Conversation (No paywall)If you’re feeling the cold this winter, you’re not alone. About a quarter of all Australians have trouble keeping their homes warm enough in winter. That figure is likely to soar this year, due to poor quality housing and the rapidly escalating energy crisis. Renters are particularly at risk, but our research has shown many home owners are in the same boat as well. We’ve collected data over the last few years on how many Australians have cold homes, find it difficult to stay warm, and can’t afford their heating bills. ... Low income renters face real threats from energy poverty this year. While we need systemic change to improve the outlook for Australia’s renters, there are low-cost DIY ways to improve how your house retains heat this winter.
https://theconversation.com/if-youre-renting-chances-are-your-ho…
# Research alert Australia, Rent, Utilities electricity water gas, Health, Home ownership, Minimum habitability standards.Switching to renewable energy: the rebates and incentives on offer to Australian households
Caitlin Cassidy The Guardian (No paywall)Power shortages are threatening the east coast as energy prices soar and demand is high due to an extended winter cold snap. The electricity uncertainty and increasing bills may prompt consumers to consider their options and accelerate the uptake of renewable energy. That’s something state and federal governments are trying to encourage with a number of rebates and incentives available. So here’s what’s on offer for those who want to adopt the latest technology while bringing down your power bill. ... Unfortunately, limited options are available for renters to decarbonise and drive down power bills via renewables.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/16/switching…
# Australia, Rent, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change, Federal Government, State Government.How climate change is turning remote Indigenous houses into dangerous hot boxes
Simon Quilty and Norman Frank Jupurrurta The Conversation (No paywall)In remote Indigenous communities that are already very hot and socioeconomically disadvantaged, climate change is driving inequities even further. Our new research, published in the MJA, shows how higher temperatures in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory will drive inequities in housing, energy and health. Read Timna Jacks's article entitled: 'Heat, shoddy homes and unreliable power leave people weak in remote NT' in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/heat-shoddy-homes-and-unreliable-power-leave-people-weak-in-remote-nt-20220616-p5aucz.html]
https://theconversation.com/how-climate-change-is-turning-remote…
# Australia, Aboriginal renters, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change, Health, Minimum habitability standards, Race and ethnicity.Economic uncertainty, rising rates and falling house prices, but no time for austerity: Treasurer
Matt Wade and Alexandra Smith The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)[NSW Treasurer Matt Kean] warned of a likely decline in house prices as the Reserve Bank lifts interest rates to keep inflation in check. “So much of the community’s wealth is tied up in the values of Sydney’s property market, and NSW’s property market ... However, Kean insisted that, despite ongoing financial pressures facing NSW, he would deliver a “reform budget” with a focus on women and the cost of living, particularly housing affordability. ... The budget will also include Premier Dominic Perrottet’s long-touted reforms to stamp duty, which will see the option of opting into a broad-based land tax, most likely limited to first-home buyers.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/economic-uncertainty-rising-…
# NSW, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Tax.The ACT government’s public housing overhaul is seeing hundreds of relocations, but Jenny Field is saying no
Tahlia Roy ABC (No paywall)Jenny Field has developed a deep familiarity with every inch of her home over 40 years. he Canberra widow has managed to remain independent despite being blind and aged in her 90s. She said she can feel her way around her home and garden because her much-loved surroundings have become almost an extension of herself. "Home means everything. I'm very familiar with the house and my front garden area," Jenny said. But the Canberra widow said her O'Connor haven was being threatened after she received an ACT government relocation notice.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-18/blind-woman-faces-relocat…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Estate renewal, Older people, Women.