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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
Dispute over unpaid rent turns deadly in the Bronx, police say
CBS News (No paywall)Police sources say officers found a man with severe trauma to the body at an apartment on the Throgs Neck Expressway service road. He was taken to the hospital and later died. A person is in custody but has not yet been charged. CBS News New York's Jennifer Bisram reports.
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/video/dispute-over-unpaid-rent-t…
# Video International, Rent, Security and safety.YALO’s Transforming Affordable Housing in Africa with Flexible Rental Solutions
Tatiana Daushvili Startup Wise Guys (No paywall)In a region where housing affordability is a significant concern, YALO emerges as a revolutionary force, aiming to provide every employed African with the opportunity to live in a decent home of their choice. By offering the flexibility and convenience of monthly rental payments, YALO is set to make a profound impact on the African rental market. YALO‘s inception is rooted in the personal experiences of one of its co-founders, Dele Ijaiya-Oladipo, after spending over a decade in the United Kingdom as an investment banker, he returned to Nigeria only to face the harsh reality of the Nigerian rental market, which requires two years’ rent upfront.
https://startupwiseguys.com/news/yalos-transforming-affordable-h…
# Must read International, Rent.The Cost of Living in Dubai
Giorgia Sgueglia Middle East Briefing (No paywall)Dubai has long established itself as a key global hub for commerce, investment, and innovation. As the city continues to grow and modernize, the cost of living has evolved alongside its economic transformation. While the cost of living in Dubai has seen a slight rise since 2023, it remains significantly more affordable than other leading financial centers such as Hong Kong and Singapore. This affordability, combined with Dubai’s strategic position in global trade and its robust business environment, continues to make it an attractive destination for businesses and investors. In the first half of 2024, Dubai experienced a notable increase in living expenses, driven by factors such as higher housing costs, inflationary pressures, and growing demand for goods and services.
https://www.middleeastbriefing.com/news/living-cost-in-dubai/
# International, .Government delivering a tax break for all Canadians and cracking down on short-term rentals
Department of Finance Canada Government of Canada (No paywall)Ministers announced the launch of the new $50 million Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund. The launch of the Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund means municipalities will have the tools they need to ensure compliance with their existing short-term rental regulations, to ensure homes remain available for Canadians to live in. Specifically, the Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund will deliver funding to municipalities to increase enforcement and compliance activities, such as hiring enforcement staff, managing complaints, and conducting inspections.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2024/12/governm…
# Hot topic International, Rent.Sydney Basin Tent Embassy opens at Victoria Park
Victoria Gillespie and Zeina Khochaiche Honi Soit (No paywall)On Saturday November 2, the Sydney Basin Tent Embassy opened at so-called Victoria Park. The event comprised speeches from embassy caretakers and Traditional Owners, as well as smoking ceremony and dances. The embassy calls for land back and recognition of First Nations sovereignty. The rain held off for the afternoon, as people gathered on the Western side of the park, close to the fence of the University of Sydney. The Tent Embassy unofficially began a couple of weeks ago, starting on the City Rd side of the park, but moved to the University side, sheltered by a fig tree and a forest of tall eucalyptus trees.
https://honisoit.com/2024/11/sydney-basin-tent-embassy-opens-at-…
# Must read NSW, Aboriginal renters.NSW Minister Clarifies That She Didn’t Mean You *Could* Rent A 2-Bedder In Sydney For $200
Laura Masia Pedestrian (No paywall)New South Wales Housing Minister Rose Jackson found herself in a bit of a shitstorm this week after she claimed it was possible to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Sydney for “a couple hundred bucks“. Her comment sparked an outcry from renters all over Sydney on social media due to how out of touch the claim seemed to be. Now, Jackson has taken to the comments of an Instagram post to set the record straight. On Wednesday, the grassroots housing movement House You shared a post criticising Jackson for underestimating the median prices of Sydney rent and claiming that she is “out of touch”.
https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/rose-jackson-rental-sydney-price/
# Hot topic, TUNSW in the media NSW, .NSW strata watchdog seeks power to enter apartment buildings without a warrant, fine owners if common property not maintained
Amy Greenbank ABC (No paywall)The NSW government has introduced a new tranche of strata reforms to parliament, which it says sets a "high-water mark" for strata living in the state. However, one significant part of the bill received scant attention during Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong's speech to parliament on Wednesday. Under the proposed changes, NSW Fair Trading is seeking new powers to enter any apartment building in the state without a warrant, if there are reasonable grounds to believe an owners corporation is not fixing common property.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-22/nsw-stateline-strata-laws…
# Must read, Legal significance NSW, Repairs, Strata.Gareth Ward calls on NSW Labor to halt planned closure of community justice centre
The Bugle Newspaper (No paywall)Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, has urged the NSW Labor government to reverse its decision to shut down Community Justice Centre (CJC) services across the state, including in the Illawarra and South Coast regions. During Question Time, Ward called on the Premier to reconsider these planned closures, which are set to take effect on July 1, 2025. Established by the Community Justice Centres Act of 1983, CJCs offer free, alternative dispute resolution services to help resolve conflicts outside of court.
https://thebuglenewspaper.com.au/NewsStory/gareth-ward-calls-on-…
# Hot topic NSW, .