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
‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme launches in government bid to house refugees
James Wilmore Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... The website went live yesterday to allow those wanting to take in refugees from Ukraine to register their interest. However it is still not clear when people will be able to accommodate those escaping the conflict. The government, which has been criticised for its slow response to the growing refugee crisis, has said there is “no limit” on the number of Ukrainians it expects to help under the scheme. According to the United Nations, more than 2.8 million people have fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion. You can also read the same story on the BBC at: [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60741942]
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/homes-for-ukraine-sche…
# International, Homelessness, International.Mortgage stress set to rise with interest rates and recent home buyers will be hit hardest
Michael Janda ABC (No paywall)Interest rates are already rising in many countries and are almost certain to rise in Australia sometime this year. But how prepared are heavily indebted households, especially those who just paid top dollar for a home in the past couple of years?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-16/mortgage-stress-set-to-ri…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.Mallee council, business take action on housing crisis by building houmes themselves
Sophie Landau and Petria Ladgrove ABC (No paywall)A council in South Australia's Mallee region is planning to build and sell affordable homes in an unusual and hands-on approach to combatting the region's housing crisis. The Karoonda East Murray Council could build up to three homes on council-owned blocks at Ponderosa Estate, which it hopes will encourage skilled workers and families to move to the area. Mayor Caroline Phillips said a lack of available, affordable housing to buy or rent had slowed the town's economic growth.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-16/mallee-council-to-build-a…
# Australia, Affordable housing, Local Government.Motel emergency accommodation demand increases as regional SA housing crisis continues
Alice Dempster ABC (No paywall)Temporary accommodation can be a lifeline for those trying to get back on their feet after relationship breakdowns, domestic violence, family deaths, drug and alcohol addictions, and the loss of jobs or homes. Milang Lakes Motel owner Chris Parsons knows this all too well, having offered emergency housing for people in their times of need for years. Accepting referrals through Junction Australia's team, he sees both Milang locals and outsiders at his motel on the shore of Lake Alexandrina for emergency stays, alongside regular patrons.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-13/motel-emergency-accommoda…
# Australia, Homelessness, Housing market.Relief for residents who were locked out of own reception after bitter dispute
Sue Williams Domain (No paywall)A 25-year contract originally sold by developer Meriton for hundreds of thousands of dollars, giving another company exclusive rights for property management and letting services in one of their multi-storey apartment complexes, has been cancelled by a tribunal in a first for NSW.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/relief-for-residents-who-we…
# NSW, Strata, Tribunal NCAT.Australia records strongest annual growth in home prices
Cait Kelly The Guardian (No paywall)Residential property prices reached their strongest annual growth on record last year, rising 23.7% in the last 12 months. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics residential property prices index report, which began reporting in 2003, the total value of the nation’s 10.8m homes grew by $2tn to a record $9.9tn last year. Australia’s property market has seen astronomical growth, spurred by record-low interest rates and government stimulus.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/15/australia…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.Renters sweltering in ‘unhealthy temperatures’ due to lax rental standards: Report
Sezen Bakan The New Daily (No paywall)Australian renters are suffering from poor sleep and difficulties working as they swelter in “unhealthy temperatures” for hours every day, according to a new report. Tenancy advocacy organisation Better Renting tracked the indoor temperatures of 50 rental homes across Australia at regular intervals from December 1, 2021 to February 22, 2022 and found the homes were above the recommended safe temperature of 25 degrees for an average of more than nine hours a day. Every one in six days, the homes reached 30 degrees or higher. Renters said the stifling temperatures regularly kept them up at night and meant they were too uncomfortable to work at home, leading to stress and poor mental health.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2022/03/17/rental-un…
# Australia, Rent, Utilities electricity water gas, Fixtures - lights, aircon etc, Health, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards.Asking rents to surge 15pc this year, stoking inflation
Nila Sweeney (Paywall)Asking rents are on track to surge by as much as 15 per cent nationwide this year, as vacancy rates plummet to a new 16-year low, adding a further spur to the country’s already surging inflation, SQM Research says. Available rentals dropped from 1.3 per cent January to 1.2 per cent of total rental stock across the country in February – the lowest level since December 2006 when vacancy rate fell to 1.1 per cent, figures from the consultancy showed on Tuesday. (Australian Financial Review)
https://www.afr.com/property/residential/asking-rents-to-surge-1…
# Australia, Rent, Housing market.