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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See notes about the Digest and a list of other contributors here. Many thanks to those contributors for sharing links with us.
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Archive
Where Sydney house hunters can save by moving one stop along the train line
Kate Burke Domain (No paywall)Sydney house hunters could spend less on their next home by moving just one stop along the train line, with prices varying by hundreds of thousands of dollars between some neighbouring stations – and in some cases by more than $1 million.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/where-sydney-house-hunters-…
# NSW, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market.How to calculate capital gains tax on a rental property
George Cochrane The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)If a property is first rented, and then you move in, the capital gain must be apportioned between the number of days the property was rented and the number of days it was used as your main residence. {Read on]
https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/how-to-calcula…
# Australia, Housing market, Landlords and agents.Homebuyers have ‘window of opportunity’ to get ahead before rates rise
John Collett The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Homebuyers appear to have missed the boat to lock-in a competitive fixed-interest rate mortgage after ANZ joined its rivals this week in hiking its fixed rates for both owner-occupiers and investors. Commonwealth Bank and NAB lifted their fixed rates last week and Westpac has increased its fixed rates twice this year – three weeks ago and then again this week. ... Still, some lenders have been cutting their variable-interest rate mortgages – even as they hike fixed rates – in a bid to boost market share.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/borrowing/homebuyers-have-window-of…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.Tenant News
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)The new year has begun, and times are at once strange and eerily familiar. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a new cabinet of Ministers late last year. On our blog we take a quick look at the new ministers for renting, housing and homes, including a number of revamped ministerial portfolios. Recently, Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was asked to explain 'who he is' at the National Press club. He told the story of his first campaign: "My first campaign, I was 12 years old. We organised a rent strike. We took petitions around to everyone. That was my experience of that. That drove me. That was my first political campaign. And by the way, we won." [Read on]
https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=29c79d2825cb376b3f0b06385&id…
# NSW, Aboriginal renters, Rent, Campaigns and law reform, Health, History, Homelessness, Mould, Personal stories, Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services.Shifts in the balance of power – reflecting on 15 years of Tenant Advocacy
Amanda El Gazzar Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)Amanda has been a Tenant Advocate at the Northern Rivers Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service for 15 years. She is now taking a well-earned break and looking at other possibilities. We took the opportunity to catch up with her and ask her for some reflections on her experiences, and on the situation of renters in NSW.
# NSW, Land lease communities, Rent, Tribunal NCAT, Housing market, Regional NSW, Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services.Our first e-bulletin for 2022
Housing for the Aged Action Group (No paywall)Welcome to our first e-bulletin for 2022. We've endured a lot in the past few years, not least a federal government that has ignored the growing crisis of older people at risk of homelessness. So we are gearing up for the federal and state elections to be held this year. How can we use this moment to bring about the changes we need to see new investment in Public Housing and the respect for older people that we deserve? [Read on]
https://mailchi.mp/f77b0dfedcb9/older-tenants-voice-summer-editi…
# Australia, Campaigns and law reform, Older people.The impossible challenge of finding rental in Wollongong: University of Wollongong backflip on housing decision
Rosie Bensley Illawarra Mercury (Paywall)The University of Wollongong has been forced to reverse its plans to sell International House, after unprecedented demand for student accommodation. The university announced plans last year to sell three of its student residences, but on Friday announced International House would be “back online” to meet a shortfall in housing. UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Student Experience) Professor Theo Farrell said with the return of international students and classes resuming on campus, the additional accommodation with close to 220 beds will assist in meeting demand. Read more at: [https://honisoit.com/2022/02/university-of-wollongong-staff-asked-to-house-students/?fbclid=IwAR3MV5cQG7kTFlC4usuycYGGnOaTqtZ-fN0DDgAVxxIFKEB28grH1eMA1Fk]
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/7605954/the-impossible…
# NSW, Rent, Housing market, Personal stories, Regional NSW, Students.Demand is driving rents up. Here’s what to do when faced with a rent increase
(No paywall)Rents are rising in many states across Australia, where many areas have vacancy rates of just above zero. So what do you do when asked to stretch your budget to meet a rent increase? (rent.com.au)
# Australia, Rent.