ADVICE OVER THE HOLIDAY PERIOD
Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services have limited availability over the holiday period. The Tenants' Union will operate a Tenancy Advice Hotline from Wednesday 18/12/2024 until Wednesday 8/1/2025 (excluding weekends and public holidays). The hours of operation are 10am-1pm and 2-5pm.
Get advice on: (02) 8117 3750 or 1800 251 101
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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See notes about the Digest and a list of other contributors here. Many thanks to those contributors for sharing links with us.
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Archive
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.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.