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.
Our main email newsletter, Tenant News is sent once every two months. You can subscribe or update your subscription preferences for any of our email newsletters here.
See notes about the Digest and a list of other contributors here. Many thanks to those contributors for sharing links with us.
We love sharing the news and hope you find it informative! We're very happy to deliver it for free, but if you find it valuable, can you help cover the extra costs incurred by making a donation?
Archive
Why keeping Queenslanders and other Aussie homes warm in winter is vital for good health
Alicia Nally and Katherine Feeney ABC (No paywall)Many Australians are shivering through each winter unaware of the impacts cold homes have on their health. From Queenslanders on stilts, often described as wooden tents, to draughty cottages in the southern states, there are many different reasons houses in the country are not keeping out the chill, according to the University of Adelaide's Lyrian Daniel.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-01/how-to-keep-brisbane-quee…
# Australia, Health, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards.The Rental Diaries: 'Is it legal for the landlord to raise the rent by $50?'
(No paywall)Welcome to our new column for renters, The Rental Diaries. Fortnightly, real estate rental guru Richard Saville, the founder and director of Break Your Lease, answers your burning questions that can cause conflict or confusion, with sound advice no matter the sticky situation. If you are a renter and have a question for Richard, email it to: epower@nine.com.au (nine.com.au)
https://www.nine.com.au/property/news/the-rental-diaries-is-it-l…
# Australia, Rent.Gold Coast councillors push to remove rates discount for property investors
Dominic Cansdale ABC (No paywall)About 94,000 investment properties on the Gold Coast are eligible for a 10 per cent early payment rates discount. Councillors say removing the discount would provide council with an additional $20 million in revenue. Attempts to remove discount in this year's budget failed, but the issue could return in 2023.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-03/gold-coast-council-rates-…
# Australia, Landlords and agents, Local Government, Tax.Combustible cladding removal costs and uncertainties causing anxiety in building owners
Nicol Asher ABC (No paywall)At an apartment block in Melbourne's south-east, Kerry Ould's retirement savings are crumbling around her. After investing her superannuation into a unit, she discovered it was covered in dangerous combustible cladding and riddled with major defects. "I bought an apartment to set up for my future and right now I haven't got one," Ms Ould said. She has been struggling to cope with the stress since getting the rectification order in December 2018. It's unsellable.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-04/combustible-cladding-remo…
# Australia, Health, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards.Home buyers brace for financial pain as economy sits on knife-edge
Shane Wright The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Home buyers would need to find up to $1000 extra a month by year’s end to cover their increased mortgage repayments if the Reserve Bank ramps up interest rates in line with financial market expectations, prompting warnings from experts the economy is on a knife-edge.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/home-buyers-brace-for-fi…
# Australia, Housing market.Wollongong estate agents on the housing crisis
Natalie Croxon Illawarra Mercury (Paywall)Wollongong real estate agents say the region’s housing crisis is unlike anything they ever have seen, with every rental property routinely attracting over 100 prospective tenants. First National Wollongong property manager Sophie Wellard said she received up to 120 online enquiries for a single property and almost all who enquired would show up for viewings, especially if it was a family home.
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/7766527/never-seen-it-…
# NSW, Rent, Landlords and agents.Rent control: Oakland will cap rent increases at 3% under new ordinance
Annie Sciacca (Paywall)From California ... The new law will cap rent increases for rent-controlled properties. (The Mercury News) If you face a paywall, check out council's notice at: [https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/allowable-rent-increases]
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/05/31/rent-control-oakland-will…
# International, Rent, Housing market, Local Government.Tax treatment of a short-term Airbnb rental
George Cochrane The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Since last August, anyone renting part of their NSW home on Airbnb, or similar, must obtain a STRA registration number from the state government’s planning portal. Airbnb now requires that number for people to keep hosting on its website. ... When a person rents part of their home, via Airbnb or otherwise, they lose the full main residence exemption from CGT.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/tax-treatment-…
# NSW, Short-term holiday letting, Tax.