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
Research reveals rental trends
Amy hall SBS (No paywall)New research led by the University of Adelaide is providing the first real insight into who rents in Australia, why they rent, and what condition the properties they rent are in. It’s hoped that the Australian Rental Housing Conditions Dataset can help in the fight to improve conditions for tenants. ... Leo Patterson Ross says it’s clear that the minimum standards for who can rent out a property and the condition that it’s leased in need to be lifted across the country.
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/research-reveals-r…
# TUNSW in the media, Audio Australia, Rent, Minimum habitability standards.Should you hide the bump? What to consider when buying a home
Emily Stewart ABC (No paywall)Applying for a home loan can be daunting at the best of times. But when you throw pregnancy and parental leave into the mix, getting the loan you want can seem even more unattainable. That was the case for ABC journalist Ashlynne McGhee – who recently had her pre-approval withdrawn when the bank found out she was on maternity leave. So, here's the lowdown on what your rights are and what can help you get approved.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-10/home-loan-bank-pregnancy-…
# Australia, Discrimination, Home ownership, Women.A new browser extension helps Australian house hunters check NBN availability
Zac Crellion The New Daily (No paywall)Ever found yourself eyeing up an online property listing and asked yourself whether the place has access to the NBN? Perhaps you work from home and don’t want your voice to become a garbled mess midway through an important Zoom meeting if you move in. Well, there’s a browser extension for that.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2022/02/09/real-esta…
# Australia, Utilities electricity water gas, Housing market.Australians install record amounts of rooftop solar despite lockdown, supply chain pressures
Daniel Mercer ABC (No paywall)Border lockdowns and supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 have failed to slow the huge uptake of rooftop solar in Australia, with householders installing record amounts of new capacity last year.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2022-02-08/record-amounts-of-r…
# Australia, Utilities electricity water gas, Housing market.‘Alarming’: Postcodes being used to determine credit scores
Sezen Bakan The New Daily (No paywall)Your current address could prevent you from buying your dream home after a major credit reporting agency started including postcode data in its application assessments. Equifax produces credit scores, which are used by banks to help determine a loan applicant’s creditworthiness. Applicants with high credit scores find it easier to access loans with lower interest rates, while people with low credit scores are slugged with higher interest rates or rejected outright.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2022/02/07/postcode-…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.The lengths Sydney families are going to for a house with a backyard
Tawar Razaghi Domain (No paywall)Young families trying to crack the housing market are paying top dollar for run-down homes, as for many it’s their only chance of owning a decent slice of Sydney land. ... Experts say investors are being outbid by desperate owner-occupiers going hell for leather for original houses, despite having to sink more money in down the track in an effort to upgrade rather than be priced-out altogether.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/the-lengths-sydney-families…
# NSW, Home ownership, Housing market, Landlords and agents.The one-bedroom Jervis Bay beach shack with a starting price of $4 million
Tawar Razaghi Domain (No paywall)Dreaming of buying a beach shack a stone’s throw from the surf? A one-bedroom property near Jervis Bay, NSW has been listed for sale, but it will set you back a pretty penny with a price guide of $4 million. They are few and far between but this tightly held beach cottage at 5 Beecroft Parade, Currarong – less than a three-hour drive from Sydney – has hit the market for the first time in almost a century.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/the-one-bedroom-jervis-bay-…
# NSW, Housing market, Regional NSW.Save money on rent while living your best life
Lauren Vardy (No paywall)If you’re like most people, rent is one of your biggest expenses – and it’s a cost you can’t easily reduce once you’ve signed a lease. Thankfully there are a few painless ways to save money on rent so you can keep living the life you love. (rent.com.au)
# Australia, Rent, Share houses.