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
As house prices soar, Berliners are angry. And so is much of Europe
The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Berlin: During Europe’s deep COVID recession, millions of jobs were lost, incomes and livelihoods were destroyed and many feared for their financial future. Housing took a different path. A boom in property prices widened the gulf between the haves and have-nots, fed anger about housing inequality and accusations that property markets are broken, dysfunctional, unfair. While some have benefited from rising values, many are facing high rents, substandard buildings, or soaring prices that keep home ownership out of reach.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/as-house-prices-soar-berline…
# Australia, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Home ownership, Housing market, International.Emma was homeless and couch surfing until a young mothers program helped 'save' her life
Felicity James ABC (No paywall)A few years ago, Emma Sailor's confidence and self-esteem were at a low point. So, her caseworker suggested she join a small group of young mothers in a study program that offered childcare in the same building. "I was homeless before I came upon this program with my child, so I was couch-surfing with her," she said. Emma said the contact with other young, single mothers who have shared similar experiences was life-changing for her.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-03/northern-territory-young-…
# Australia, Homelessness, Women, Young people.Starmer pledges £60bn on major housing retrofit programme
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Speaking at the Labour Party’s annual conference in Brighton today, Sir Keir Starmer called climate change the “biggest issue of our time” and said the retrofitting of housing is key to fighting the challenge. Labour’s plan would see it spend £60bn over a decade to retrofit 19 million homes to a minimum standard of EPC Band C, a spokesperson confirmed. Grants will be provided to low-income households, while those who can afford it will receive low-interest loans.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/starmer-pledges-60bn-on-maj…
# International, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change, Housing market.In need of modernisation? The UK’s housing crisis close up
Laurence Grissell & Paul Kerley BBC (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... When Steve's flat was struck by lightning in 2011, he thought all his prayers had been answered. Could he free himself from a property which - in just four years - had become a financial burden? "I really hoped [the insurers] would just write off this building and pay off our mortgages. But that didn't happen," he explains. There are four other stories and all five and more feature in 'A Home of Our Own' which starts on BBC Radio 4 on Monday 4 October. You can listen at: [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00106b7/episodes/guide]
# Audio International, Housing market, Personal stories.The cost of sustainable design and appliances is “chump change”. So why isn’t everybody doing it?
Duncan Murray The Fifth Estate (No paywall)Under proposed updates to the National Construction Code (NCC), buildings will need to function at a higher level of energy efficiency and take a holistic approach to design and appliances. For those already implementing these principles into their day-to-day businesses, the question is — what took you so long?
https://thefifthestate.com.au/innovation/residential-2/the-cost-…
# Australia, Utilities electricity water gas, Housing market.Affordable housing is a myth that worsens the housing crisis – but there is a fix
Rachel Joy Bosler The Conversation (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... The shift to affordable rent, therefore, has exacerbated the housing crisis. In spite of a slight increase in house building, the new homes being built are too expensive for those who need them. Also, in seeking to solve the housing crisis by raising rents from social to affordable for council tenants, the cost burden effectively falls on those most in need. Lavish subsidiaries and tax breaks, meanwhile, are given to those who can afford multiple houses.
https://theconversation.com/affordable-housing-is-a-myth-that-wo…
# International, Public and community housing, Affordable housing, Housing market, Tax.Why homebuyers rate internet speed more important than ever before
James Ried The New Daily (No paywall)For Australian householders, good internet speeds have become more important than ever, and especially so for anyone looking to buy or rent a new property. With so many people needing to work from home during COVID-19 lockdowns, often while simultaneously homeschooling and entertaining children, a strong internet connection has become a crucial requirement.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/tech/2021/10/01/internet-speed-h…
# Australia, Utilities electricity water gas.Using valuable inner-city land for car parking? In a housing crisis, that just doesn’t add up
Timothy Welch The Conversation (No paywall)From New Zealand ... When I first moved to New Zealand – even after living in some of the highest-priced US property markets – I was taken aback by house prices. My shock was reinforced by the condition of the houses, many of which lack sufficient insulation, adequate heating or cooling, or double-glazed windows. I wondered why I’d pay so much for a house that needed so much attention. Then I overheard someone quip, “In New Zealand, you pay for the land and the house comes for free.” Suddenly things made a lot more sense.
https://theconversation.com/using-valuable-inner-city-land-for-c…
# International, Housing market.