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
FEANTSA Flash
European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (No paywall)Happy new year and welcome back to the FEANTSA Flash! We hope the Christmas break has left you feeling restored and ready to continue your work tackling homelessness in 2022. Ambition seems to be high this year with the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union listing working towards the eradication of homelessness, namely through the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness, among their priorities. Read on to find out more.
https://mailchi.mp/feantsa/the-latest-updates-on-homelessness-in…
# International, Campaigns and law reform, Homelessness.‘Designed to heal’: The Sydney garden that may be key to our mental health
Angus Thompson The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The patch of rainforest in the sprawling grounds of the drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre is a favourite spot for the residents. On more than one occasion, the centre’s director, Garth Popple, has said he wants his ashes to be spread about the haven of palm trees, bamboo, and buttresses of the Moreton Bay fig. “Where do you get this in the inner city?” he asks over the chorus of cicadas droning in the tropical January heat, minutes before a downpour that dances across the canopy. Nature appears to be reclaiming much of the area around Broughton Hall, the NSW Health-owned site on which the non-profit facility We Help Ourselves (WHOS) is based, deep-set in a corner of Callan Park, in Sydney’s inner west.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/designed-to-heal-the-sydney-…
# NSW, Health, Planning and development.How the Brisbane Olympics could cause a high jump for property prices
Sarah Webb Domain (No paywall)The Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics could fuel the biggest real estate renaissance in the city’s history, with industry experts predicting a gilded decade of property price growth that will push the median house price past the million-dollar mark and see key infrastructure suburbs soar.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/how-the-brisbane-olympics-c…
# Australia, Housing market.Technology has made buildings less climate-friendly: but we can look back in time for solutions
Bashar Al Shawa The Conversation (No paywall)It’s been claimed that technology is the answer to the climate crisis. By eventually separating economic growth from its effects on the environment through improving energy efficiency, the argument runs, better technology promises to prevent catastrophic global warming. But among the many things that this argument fails to consider is the reality that new technology has often encouraged extravagant forms of consumption: from private cars and planes to kitchens full of appliances and air conditioning in countries with mild climates. Technology has also caused what’s called the “rebound effect”: where improving energy efficiency leads to cheaper energy and therefore higher rates of energy consumption. For example, buying a more fuel-efficient car will reduce your average fuel cost per trip and thus is likely to lead to more trips, taking away at least some of your anticipated energy savings.
A similar trend appears in architecture ... [Read on]
https://theconversation.com/technology-has-made-buildings-less-c…
# International, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change, Housing market.Cities are made from more than buildings and roads. They are also made by ambiences – how a city makes you feel
Jordan Lacey The Conversation (No paywall)How does a city feel? Energetic, unnerving, invigorating, relaxing? This is a key question often asked by designers who consider the ambience of a city. Typically, when we think of a city we jump straight to thinking about its buildings, roads, shops and parklands: the physical things we are surrounded by. But what about all those invisible things in between?
https://theconversation.com/cities-are-made-from-more-than-build…
# Australia, Planning and development.Scottish regulator to appoint 12 tenant advisors
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)The Scottish Housing Regulator is recruiting 12 volunteer tenant advisors to bring a tenant perspective to its scrutiny of landlords’ services. Applications are currently being accepted from tenants of councils and registered social landlords (RSLs) across Scotland, with individuals “from all walks of life” being encouraged to apply. Tenant advisors will have a number of responsibilities, including acting as ‘mystery shoppers’ to assess information and materials produced by landlords. They will also be asked to review the SHR’s draft publications and website to ensure that its material is accessible and user-friendly for tenants. The tenants will also ask other service users for their views to give the SHR a direct user perspective to add to other regulatory evidence.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/scottish-regulator-to-…
# International, Public and community housing.Another Mr Fluffy asbestos home found in Canberra — seventh identified since buyback scheme
Susan McDonald ABC (No paywall)Another house with Mr Fluffy asbestos insulation has been found in Canberra — the second contaminated property discovered in the past year. ... The loose-fill material was discovered in the ceiling cavity by a building inspector preparing a report for the property to be sold in mid-December 2021. A full assessment by an asbestos assessor confirmed the asbestos was installed in an extension area of the ceiling cavity, where it lay hidden under other insulation. The property is the seventh to be found since the ACT government embarked on its $1 billion scheme in 2014 to buy back and demolish all homes tainted by Mr Fluffy asbestos.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-11/another-mr-fluffy-home-id…
# Australia, Asbestos, lead, hazardous materials.‘Appallingly handled’: Development sparks fury in Alexandria’s golden triangle
Carrie Fellner The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Alexandria’s “golden triangle” is prized for its tranquil, tree-lined streets, untouched by the march of high-rise development through gentrified inner Sydney. So it’s unsurprising the bulldozing of its federation cottages to make way for a townhouse development has rankled neighbours in the sought-after locale.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/appallingly-handled-developm…
# NSW, Local Government, Planning and development.