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
Thursday Island residents blame public service for chronic housing, disease problems
Jemima Burt ABC (No paywall)Thursday Island is a pulsing hub of public service servicing the Torres Strait, but underneath all that administration and bureaucracy there is a festering problem. ... Waiben's original inhabitants, the Kaurareg people, were forcibly removed to Moa Island the early 1920s, but the island remains an important service centre for Torres Strait Islanders – who make up about a quarter of Thursday Island's population. ... The result is widespread homelessness and overcrowded housing among Thursday Island's Indigenous populations, with government housing occupying more than half of the island. Health authorities say the situation has led to the region having the highest rate of rheumatic heart disease in the country – a condition with links to overcrowded housing. While many public servants are offered subsidised rent, local people are being forced to pay mainstream rent in an inflated and unrealistic economy.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-30/public-service-drives-hom…
# Australia, Aboriginal renters, Health, Housing market.Towards a Youth Homelessness Strategy for Victoria
Tom Alves and Christian Roggenbuck AHURI (No paywall)Young people are a significant group experiencing homelessness in Victoria. Compared to older cohorts, young people have distinctive pathways into, and experiences of homelessness. To effectively meet the needs of young people a youth-specific homelessness strategy is required in Victoria. Read more at: [https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/news/A-Youth-Homelessness-Strategy-is-needed-to-support-the-unique-needs-of-young-Victorians]
https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/professional-services/Towards-…
# Australia, Homelessness, Young people.States disagree on access features for new housing – and open the gates to confusion, especially for trades
Jane Bringolf The Fifth Estate (No paywall)In December the Building Ministers’ Meeting will finalise the section of the National Construction Code relating to basic easy access features in all new homes. The decision to include these features, referred to as the Silver standard, was made in April this year. But this is not a done deal. Contrary to the spirit of a national building code, New South Wales and South Australia are refusing to adopt the Silver standard. They say it costs too much.
https://thefifthestate.com.au/innovation/residential-2/states-di…
# Australia, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards, State Government.Millions of Australians paying more for rent now than ever before
Jennifer Bechwati (No paywall)We're talking about real families and real people whose incomes cannot keep up. (7 News)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxf1fmHF6ss&ab_channel=7NEWSAust…
# TUNSW in the media, Audio Australia, Rent, Federal Government, Housing affordability.Homeless Sunshine Coast family finds housing, work and opportunities in Melbourne
Kylie Bartholomew, Tessa Mapstone, and Sheridan Stewart ABC (No paywall)The 31-year-old was born on the Sunshine Coast where four generations of her family have also called home. But when the rental property she was living in was sold in November 2020, Ms Liberty Page, her partner Aden Kingston, and their girls aged one and three were left homeless. They applied for hundreds of rental properties, and despite secure income and references they were forced to live in hotels and couch surf with friends.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-30/sunshine-coast-family-def…
# Australia, Rent, Housing affordability, Housing market.'Out of control' rent hike claims as new figures reveal costs of renting one bed property increased by nearly double national average
Jolene Campbell (Paywall)From Scotland ... New figures have revealed that Edinburgh and East Lothian saw the average rent for a one bed property rise from £520 in 2010 to £755 in 2021 – almost double the national cumulative increase over that period. The latest statistics have sparked warnings from community figures that rent costs across the city are ‘out of control’ and that the housing system is ‘broken’. ... Alison Watson, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “It has been an extremely tough year for many, with tens of thousands of people losing jobs and income. But the cost of putting a roof over your head in the private sector is still growing, putting extra undue pressure on families. “The housing system in Scotland is broken and we need to see action now so that no one has to face the prospect of losing their home. Families are sacrificing other essentials such as energy to heat homes and clothing to pay for extortionate rent. The rising cost of family homes mustn’t be allowed to push more children into poverty.” (Edinburgh News)
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/out-of-contro…
# International, Rent, Families, Housing affordability, Housing market.Treasurer opens door to property market regulators as prices continue to rise
Jennifer Duke The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has opened the door for financial regulators to intervene further in the Sydney and Melbourne property markets as house prices continue to rise. ... While Mr Frydenberg said he did not know what the regulators would do yet, he indicated there could be more limitations put on borrowing. Also check the video on 'tiny homes' within this article.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/house-prices-slow-to-the…
# Video Australia, Affordable housing, Housing market.Major changes to community schemes laws
NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal (No paywall)The new Community Land Management Act 2021 and Community Land Development Act 2021 commenced on 1 December 2021. The new Acts align community schemes laws with the existing strata schemes laws.
https://app.getresponse.com/view.html?x=a62b&m=BMASol&mc=I6&s=Nl…
# New policy announcement NSW, Strata, Tribunal NCAT.