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
Housing select committee launches inquiry into quality and regulation of social housing
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... An inquiry has been launched into “concerns about the quality of social housing” and the regulatory regime by a cross-party group of MPs. ... The quality of social housing has come under scrutiny over the past year following an ongoing investigation by ITV News into the terrible conditions faced by some tenants.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/housing-select-committ…
# International, Public and community housing, Minimum habitability standards.‘You’re throwing money away’ and other renting myths – busted
Lauren Vardy (No paywall)As more Australians choose to rent each year, a growing number of people have questions about what’s involved in the renting process. Here are nine myths we regularly hear from renters and the truths behind them. (rent.com.au)
# Australia, Rent.Regulator publishes consumer regulation plans for landlords
Tim Clark Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published its initial plans setting out how it will inspect and regulate housing associations regarding their treatment of tenants. In the paper published today, the RSH has laid out its method for regulating consumer standards. It will use the same underlying principles the regulator uses for economic regulation. The regulator identified six themes: safety, quality, neighbourhood, transparency, engagement and accountability, and tenancies.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/regulator-publishes-co…
# International, Public and community housing.Rent Control for Private SROs Passes in Vancouver
Jen St. Denis (No paywall)Vancouver city councillors voted to implement stricter rent control for tenants who live in single-room occupancy hotels after hearing the policy could prevent people from becoming homeless amid steadily rising rates and gentrification. (The Tyee)
https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/11/18/Rent-Control-Private-SROs-Pas…
# International, Rent, Homelessness, Housing market, Local Government.House prices set to rise faster than wages next year even as property market slows and incomes pick up
Melissa Heagney Domain (No paywall)First-home buyers will struggle to get into the housing market even as wages improve and house prices slow, because house prices are still set to grow faster than wages next year, economists warn. ... ANZ senior economist Felicity Emmett said the widening gap between wages growth and house price rises had made it “extremely difficult” for those who did not already own property to get into the market. Though rents had fallen in some cities, it would not be of much help to those wanting to buy, Ms Emmett said.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/house-prices-set-to-rise-faster-t…
# Australia, Rent, Home ownership, Housing market.Residents paid £450,000 by landlords after Housing Ombudsman’s rulings
Jack Simpson Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Social housing residents who have been victims of poor complaint handling have received nearly £450,000 from their landlords following orders from the Housing Ombudsman last year, new figures have revealed.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/residents-paid-450000-…
# International, Public and community housing, Local Government.Australian house prices 'rolling over' as rising interest rates, affordability bite, warns ANZ
Michael Janda ABC (No paywall)ANZ bank has tipped house price falls the year after next as the pandemic boom in Australian housing comes to an end.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-18/house-prices-roll-over-af…
# Australia, Housing market.Giving up the need to possess
Amelia Lester The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)In the bid to timeshare our lives, the final frontier for Australians will be property. For us, buying a home is a rite of passage, but elsewhere in the world, buying a house isn’t seen as the greatest of all achievements.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/is-the-n…
# Australia, Rent, Home ownership, Renting culture.