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
Queensland flood victims say $6 billion flood relief in federal budget doesn't address immediate housing need
BazRuddick ABC (No paywall)Last night's federal budget revealed $6 billion will be spent on flood relief for communities in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, but those affected, and their advocates, say it does not come close to addressing immediate housing needs, and the state's growing housing crisis.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-30/qld-federal-budget-flood-…
# Australia, Federal Government, Housing market.The coming storm for New Zealand’s future retirees: still renting and not enough savings to avoid poverty
Claire Dale The Conversation (No paywall)A large number of New Zealanders are facing a perfect storm at retirement, with minimal savings and no house, raising the risk that thousands will enter old age in poverty. ... New Zealanders have traditionally relied on owning a home to support themselves during their retirement years. But many of the New Zealanders now aged between 50 and 65 – a cohort of almost half a million people – will go into retirement as renters after skyrocketing house prices over the last three decades put home ownership out of reach.
https://theconversation.com/the-coming-storm-for-new-zealands-fu…
# International, Rent, Housing market, Older people.Budget fails to address high housing costs
Editorial The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The federal budget has put rising petrol bills at the centre of its “cost of living relief” package but the cost of housing, which is a much greater burden on the family budget, has not been given such a high profile. ... [Prime Minister Scott Morrison] said that “the best way to support people renting a house is to help them buy a house”. While Mr Morrison was right to sing the praises of home ownership, his remarks sounded insensitive to the 30 per cent of Australians who rent, especially those who do not want to buy or cannot afford to. Also, read Tawar Razaghi's article entitled: '"Pure electioneering": First-home buyer help will increase property prices, experts warn' in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/pure-electioneering-first-home-buyer-help-will-increase-property-prices-experts-warn-20220330-p5a99w.html].
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/budget-fails-to-addr…
# Australia, Rent, Families, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing affordability.'A let them eat cake moment': Scott Morrison says best way to help renters is to ‘help them buy a house’
Calla Wahlquist The Guardian (No paywall)Scott Morrison has told renters that the best way the government can support them is to help them buy a home, in what housing experts have described as a “let them eat cake” moment. The prime minister made the comment on Channel Nine’s Today show on Wednesday morning after being asked why there was not more support for renters in the federal budget handed down on Tuesday night. Also, read Soaliha Iqbal's article entitled: 'In A Rare Moment Of Genius, Scott Morrison’s Solution To Avoid Rent Increases Is To Buy A House' in 'Pedestrian' at: [https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/scott-morrison-tells-renters-to-buy-a-house/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3ODA88MOYlf6KucOONORLSHf0TOtgfv_AV3WeCQABl9L191og823EG9QQ]. Listen to Emily Bourke's report entitled: 'PM says buy first home to avoid climbing rents' on ABC's PM at: [https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/pm/pm-says-buy-first-home-to-avoid-climbing-rents/13819640]. And again, here's the same story by Courtney Gould entitled '"Buy a house": PM's message to renters' in news.com.au at: [https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/federal-budget/scott-morrison-and-ally-langdon-clash-over-rent-relief-after-federal-budget-delivered/news-story/2e8208699dddcdfd9dc383d38e5055e7]
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/30/scott-mor…
# Australia, Rent, Federal Government, Housing affordability, Housing market.Higher mortgage costs will soon dwarf budget benefits
John Collett The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Measures in the federal budget to assist people in the face of higher prices for food, petrol and other essentials probably won’t be nearly enough to seriously alleviate financial stress, with many households already struggling. Figures from Digital Finance Analytics provided to Money show mortgage stress — a leading factor in financial stress — is greatest among “young growing families”, which includes many recent first-time buyers and those living in the regions. Also, read Melissa Heagney's article entitled: 'Rising mortgage costs could leave petrol price pain in the shade' in 'Domain' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/rising-mortgage-costs-could-leave-petrol-price-pain-in-the-shade-20220329-p5a93k.html].
https://www.smh.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/higher-mortg…
# Australia, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market, Regional NSW, Young people.Why unaffordable housing is here to stay
Michael Janda ABC (No paywall)Millions of Australians can't afford to buy a house, with prices skyrocketing since the pandemic began. In its pre-election budget, the federal government is extending a scheme allowing first home buyers to purchase a property with just a 5 percent deposit. But will it ease the crisis? Today, ABC business reporter Michael Janda explains why much more needs to be done to help the Australians priced out of the market. (ABC News Daily)
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/abc-news-daily/why-unaffor…
# Audio Australia, Rent, Federal Government, Homelessness, Housing affordability, Housing market.Hobart City Council passes amendment to limit number of new whole houses used as short-stay accommodation
Isabella Podwinski ABC (No paywall)The number of short-stay properties allowed in the Hobart area will be limited under a motion passed by the Hobart City Council to stop any new permits for whole-house short-stay development in residential areas. ... Councillor Helen Burnet introduced the motion last week and said the changes would increase the availability of long-term rentals in the greater Hobart area, which would otherwise be used as short-stay accommodation, with the exception of permits in commercial and mixed-zone areas.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-29/hobart-city-council-airbn…
# Australia, Rent, Housing market, Local Government, Short-term holiday letting.Gold Coast suburb has $1.4bn in property at ‘very high risk’ from coastal erosion
Eden Gillespie The Guardian (No paywall)Paradise Point has 20% of its housing stock vulnerable to erosion or storm-surge damage, CoreLogic says. ... [Dr Pierre Wiart, CoreLogic’s head of consulting and risk management] ... said coastal damage would have far-reaching implications on Australia’s property market and financial sector, including on property valuations, home loan viability and insurance premiums.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/29/gold-coas…
# Australia, Climate change, Housing market.