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
Ex-ministers could have shown humility and regret at the Grenfell inquiry. They didn’t
Lucie Heath The Guardian (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Despite weeks of evidence about safety deregulation, those who were in charge seem convinced they are above reproach. Over the past two weeks, more than four years after its first hearing, the Grenfell Tower inquiry finally heard from senior government figures responsible for housing and building regulations in the years before the disaster. ... It seems that a moment of self-reflection – or even an accurate account of the tragedy – was too much to ask for from our most senior elected representatives. They insist they are not responsible for decisions leading up to the fire. However, over its investigation, the inquiry has consistently painted a damning picture of the deregulation drive that was a key focus during Cameron’s time as prime minister. The obsession with abolishing red tape saw ministers at that time ignoring warning signs about a growing building safety crisis, and civil servants too disaffected to speak up.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/14/ministers-…
# International, Public and community housing, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards.Make landlords get a licence and punish them for unsafe homes, renters’ unions tell councils
Jon Stone (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Councils have been told to stop giving a free pass to landlords renting out dangerous homes – amid mounting evidence they are taking a "soft touch approach". Tenants unions are leading calls to bring in landlord licensing schemes and step up enforcement of existing ones, after it emerged that some local authorities have issued zero fines. 3.2m renters live in dangerous or unhealthy conditions across the country according research by the housing charity Shelter – with broken windows, damp and mould common in Britain's dilapidated rented housing stock. While councils have the power to require licences for people who let out homes and to hold them to a certain standard, many do not use it or do little enforcement. (Independent)
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/landlord-licence-…
# International, Rent, Repairs, Housing market, Local Government, Minimum habitability standards, Mould.Rental crisis: Affordable housing expected to be a key issue in Federal election
Melissa Clark ABC (No paywall)There are currently no short-term supports in place to help people find a rental home.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-15/affordable-housing-expect…
# Video Australia, Rent, Federal Government, Housing affordability, Housing market.The Sydney suburbs where rents have risen, and fallen, most in a year
Tawar Razaghi Domain (No paywall)Sydneysiders are paying more to rent a house in nine out of 10 suburbs than they were a year ago, as new figures reveal some locations have spiked more than 40 per cent. Houses in Elanora Heights had the largest jump of 45.7 per cent – or $400 – in the year to March 2022, reaching $1275 a week. Double Bay, which rose 41.8 per cent to $2000 and North Manly (41.2 per cent) were second and third respectively, while Vaucluse and Malabar rose more than 36 per cent each. Only 26 suburbs saw a decrease in house rents. ... The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) CEO, Dr Cassandra Goldie, said people on lower incomes were being priced out of major cities and some regional areas. “Those relying on income support payments and unable to access social housing, have few housing choices and are often forced to live in situations that are unsuitable, unsafe, inaccessible or isolated from services and jobs,” she said. “Rent assistance is just $73 a week for a single person and hasn’t been increased in real terms in over 20 years."
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/the-sydney-suburbs-where-re…
# NSW, Rent, Housing affordability, Housing market.Short-term support for renters lacking in campaign pledges so far
ABC (No paywall)The Coalition and Labor are promising to address the housing supply problem, but while there's immediate help for first home buyers, for renters there are long-term promises, but no short-term support to help people find a place to call home. (ABC News)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlQlgAxNwT0&ab_channel=ABCNews%2…
# Video Australia, Rent, Federal Government, Housing affordability, Housing market.Aussie industry where bullying, assault and mental health issues are rife
Sarah Sharples news.com.au (Paywall)The real estate world is now classified as high risk after the Victorian Coroner's office found that the annual suicide rate within the industry was 13 per 100,000 people.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/aussie-industry-whe…
# Australia, Health, Landlords and agents, Work, employment.Rent crisis sweeping across our suburbs sending costs soaring
Gemma Acton (No paywall)Rents have soared for houses and units across Australia, with price hikes in some capital cities of more than 20%. The main reason is a record low number of available properties. A crisis that experts predict will only get worse. (7 News)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca397as5NYM&ab_channel=7NEWSAust…
# TUNSW in the media, Video Australia, Rent, Housing market.Should I stay or should I go?
Geoff Thompson ABC (No paywall)After two major floods in little more than a month, Lismore is facing an existential crisis. Should residents stay or go — and where?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-17/after-lismore-floods-nort…
# NSW, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards, Personal stories, Planning and development.