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
Does Victoria need a social housing regulator?
Richelle Hunt ABC (No paywall)An independent review into Victoria's social housing system has found that there needs to be a greater focus on tenants who live in public or social housing. Proposed solutions include adopting a statewide regulator and improving the complaints process for tenants, but would it help? Ex-lawyer Rob who currently boards in community housing says 'you have to expect that you're going to be treated as a lesser person [in social housing].' (ABC The Conversation Hour)
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/theconversationh…
# Audio Australia, Public and community housing.How to benefit from real estate investment and contribute to ethical outcomes at the same time
Ian Lynch The Fifth Estate (No paywall)Around the country, the affordability of housing is a key and growing concern for many people. It’s a problem not only for first home buyers and key workers on minimum wages, who are often the “go to” for sensationalised media, but also a concern for a growing number of mum and dad and smaller portfolio property investors, who are worried about housing affordability for their children and future generations. However, there is an opportunity for property investors to rent their property out in the normal fashion, while at the same time, influence the market by making a positive difference to the community. Enter: the “social enterprise real estate agency”. These real estate agents operate like any other agents in the community, the only difference is they tend to be owned and operated by not-for-profit community housing providers (usually also registered charities), thus distributing their profits back to their charitable parent entities.
https://thefifthestate.com.au/housing-2/how-to-benefit-from-real…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Housing market, Landlords and agents.No price listed, but this 16th century castle comes with a free ghost
James Robinson Domain (No paywall)A magnificent stone castle built in 1546 has been listed for sale in the country town of Leuchars in Scotland. Earlshall Castle is an enchanting, albeit imposing structure that boasts a rich and colourful past in the annals of Scottish folklore.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/no-price-listed-but-this-16…
# International, Housing market.Inflation is not 'out of control', but interest rates may have to rise this year
Gareth Hutchens ABC (No paywall)Australian consumers saw prices rise by 3.5 per cent last year. It was the fastest annual increase in prices in years. What does it mean? ... On property prices, economists say the chance of higher interest rates this year will put downward pressure on property prices, which will be good news for people who are trying to crack into the market.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-26/inflation-isnt-out-of-con…
# Australia, Housing market.If your house is sweltering during summer, here are some tips to cool it down
Christine Layton ABC (No paywall)How has your house held up under the most recent heatwave? Have you made any structural changes to try and cope better? If you've added things like roller shutters, shade cloth or a pergola you're on the right track. Architect Peter Hobbs joins Christine Layton to discuss how to cool your house during a heat wave. Listen to their conversation to learn more. (ABC WA Afternoons)
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/perth/programs/wa-afternoons/climat…
# Audio Australia, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change.Sydney house prices surge almost $1100 a day, but the market may have peaked
Kate Burke Domain (No paywall)Sydney house prices have hit a record median of $1.6 million, new figures show, after climbing almost $1100 a day in 2021. Greater Sydney house prices skyrocketed by 33.1 per cent – almost $400,000 – last year, climbing 6 per cent in the final quarter alone to a median of $1,601,467, Domain’s Quarterly House Price Report reveals. It’s the steepest annual increase since Domain records began in 1993, with house prices in half a dozen regions rising more than $500,000. Unit price growth was more subdued but still rose 8.3 per cent annually – and a marginal 0.9 per cent last quarter – to a record high of $802,255.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/sydney-house-prices-surge-a…
# NSW, Housing affordability, Housing market.Starting a house hunt? Beware the ‘wounded under-bidder’
Elizabeth Redman Domain (No paywall)Potential property buyers who missed out in 2021 are approaching this year’s market with renewed determination, wary that December’s price slowdown might reverse once the new year begins in earnest ...
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/starting-a-house-hunt-bewar…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.SA councils complain $27m e-planning system is not delivering promised savings
Declan Gooch ABC (No paywall)South Australian councils are complaining that a new planning system hailed as the "single biggest reform" to planning in state history is costing them time and money. The e-planning system was rolled out over two years to all councils and centralises all stages of the development application process. The $27 million online portal was designed to make it easier for applicants and assessors to manage applications as they move through the process. But the president of SA's Local Government Association, Angela Evans, said 98 per cent of the councils it surveyed reported ongoing costs or resourcing burdens associated with the new system.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-25/e-planning-system-south-a…
# Australia, Local Government, Planning and development.