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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See notes about the Digest and a list of other contributors here. Many thanks to those contributors for sharing links with us.
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Archive
How hybrid working has changed the way we live in our homes
Sue Williams Domain (No paywall)Love it or loathe it, the ability to work from home has become one of the most profound social changes of our lifetimes. For some, it means the freedom to sleep in late, put the washing on during breaks between tasks and play with the dog while pretending to be absorbed in a Zoom meeting discussion. For some, it’s the capacity to skip the commute and work solidly without as many interruptions. And for others, WFH entails loneliness, boredom, a lack of motivation and the absence of corporate culture, mentorships, career growth and job satisfaction. But for everyone, it’s involved spending a lot more time at home and noticing what it might lack in terms of private spaces to work, outdoor areas for a breath of fresh air and an environment that’s conducive to creativity and calm.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/how-the-rise-of-hybrid-woring-has…
# NSW, Coronavirus COVID-19, Families, Work, employment.My tips to easily slash the interest on your mortgage
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Here are the three techniques I used to repay my mortgage in full for $200,000 less… and 18 years sooner. ...
https://www.smh.com.au/money/borrowing/my-tips-to-easily-slash-t…
# Australia, Home ownership.China Evergrande dodges default again, but where is the money coming from?
Rhiana Whitson ABC (No paywall)China Evergrande Group has been lurching from one debt deadline to another and has so far managed to avoid default, but where is the money coming from?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-12/the-biz-evergrande-avoids…
# International, Housing market, Landlords and agents.Wollongong homes hit $1 million milestone as competitive 'Sydney buyers' swoop
Tim Fernandez ABC (No paywall)The prospect of owning a million-dollar property was once a fantasy for most residents in the blue-collar city of Wollongong, but it is now a reality for a growing majority of homeowners.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-05/-sydney-buyers-push-wollo…
# NSW, Housing affordability, Housing market, Regional NSW.ACT govt proposes insulation standards to help make Canberra rental homes more energy efficient
Brittney Levinson Canberra Times (Paywall)In the peak of Canberra winter, Jessica McConnell and her three housemates did everything they could to keep their Deakin rental house warm.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7501924/canberra-renters-…
# Australia, Rent, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards.The cost of renting and buying in Time Out’s coolest Australian suburbs
Kate Burke Domain (No paywall)Buying or renting a home in some of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods sounds costly, but the reality might not be as expensive as you think.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/the-cost-of-renting-and-buying-in…
# Australia, Rent, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market.Private islands for sale in Queensland going cheap, but lifestyle has its challenges
Sally Rafferty ABC (No paywall)Eager buyers trying to get a foot on the property ladder could snap up a tropical island for the price of a one-bedroom apartment in Sydney, a real estate agent says. ... Around Australia, private Islands have been snapped up in the past 12 months for as little as $320,000.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-11/private-islands-for-sale-…
# Australia, Housing market.Holiday home rent on NSW South Coast skyrockets more than 30 per cent
Jessica Clifford ABC (Paywall)The price of taking a holiday on the New South Wales South Coast has skyrocketed, with a week’s accommodation costing up to $22,000.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-13/holiday-home-rent-on-nsw-…
# NSW, Regional NSW, Short-term holiday letting.