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
UK Housing Review: Right to Buy branded a ‘strategic failure’
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... The Right to Buy has become a “strategic failure” and will exacerbate inequalities unless it is reconsidered, an analysis from the upcoming UK Housing Review has found. The analysis, which forms part of the Chartered Institute of Housing’s (CIH) annual research report on the housing sector, outlined how the Right to Buy has led to a decline in the social rent sector and a growth of the private rented sector in the UK. According to the analysis, a “cautious estimate” would indicate that up to 40% (1.1 million) of homes sold through the Right to Buy are now rented out privately. These statistics undermine the ambition of Right to Buy to boost homeownership, the research said.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/uk-housing-review-righ…
# International, Public and community housing, Rent, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing market.How the 2011 floods hit Brisbane’s property market, and what will happen this time
Sarah Webb Domain (No paywall)Torrential rain that sparked widespread flooding across south-east Queensland won’t dampen the region’s booming property market, experts say, with interstate and overseas buyer rates still on the rise. Despite some homes in Brisbane’s flood-prone zones suffering complete inundation for the second time in 11 years, industry figures believe property prices are too resilient to falter, with historical data from the city’s flood-hit suburbs revealing medians in some pockets more than doubled between 2011 and 2021.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/how-the-2011-floods-hit-bri…
# Australia, Housing market.10 ways to protect your home from storms and floods
Sue Williams Domain (No paywall)With homes on the eastern seaboard being slammed by rain, storms and floods, experts say it’s time to rethink how we’re building our houses, as well as where we’re building them.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/living/10-ways-to-protect-your-h…
# Australia, Housing market.“I don’t know of any more ambitious project anywhere in the world that’s doing these things. It’s pretty impressive” – Mulpha’s zero carbon “City of Tomorrow”
Rose Mary Petrass The Fifth Estate (No paywall)Mulpha has gathered a premium design team to deliver its zero carbon mixed-use “City of Tomorrow” at its huge Norwest Norwest Business Park, in The Hills district north west of Sydney. And some of the features may set a new national benchmark if not individually at least in aggregate. Among them an airconditioning system that experts say should be mandated for its ability to minimise heating outdoor spaces, a zero waste supermarket and water recycling.
https://thefifthestate.com.au/innovation/residential-2/i-dont-kn…
# NSW, Climate change, Housing market, Planning and development.The latest sign the housing boom is losing steam
Tawar Razaghi Domain (No paywall)More units than houses sold under the hammer in almost all major cities in February in another sign the housing boom is losing steam. Affordability constraints and the return of investors meant clearance rates for units were higher than houses in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra, according to Domain’s February auction report.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/the-latest-sign-the-housing…
# Australia, Housing market.Vale Shane Warne, the prolific property flipper
Elizabeth Redman Domain (No paywall)Shane Warne knew how to flip more than a cricket ball. The late Aussie leg-spinner had a keen interest in collecting and trading prestige real estate, especially in Melbourne’s exclusive suburb of Brighton, and one of his homes was so nice he owned it twice.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/vale-shane-warne-the-prolif…
# Australia, Landlords and agents.Deciding on a rent rise isn’t easy
Kim Brear Inside Housing (Paywall)Under government rules, English housing associations can apply a 4.1% rent rise from April. But should they? Kim Brear explains how Leeds Federated made its decision ... Following a wider discussion, and taking into account all perspectives, we decided we will raise rents by 4.1%.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/comment/comment/deciding-on-a-re…
# International, Public and community housing, Rent.Geelong house prices almost on par with Melbourne but signs market heat is dying off
Rachel Clayton ABC (No paywall)At the beginning of 2020, speculation about a housing crash fuelled hope in first home buyers that they could, finally, get a foot in the market. But that swell of expectation came crashing down as the record-setting market of the past two years further exacerbated the dividing line of home ownership in Australia.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-09/melbourne-geelong-housing…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.