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
Landlord register is a start in protecting private renters
Polly Neate (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Imagine a mother coming home from dropping her child at nursery to find the locks changed. A family moving into a new home who discovers the smoke alarms are broken. Or a nervous couple fearing another knock at the front door from their abusive landlord. Apart from being shocking, these are all examples of law-breaking behaviour that private renters across England are contending with – as 3.7 million private renters have been victims of illegal behaviour by a landlord or agent. And right now, renters have few means of seeking justice when things go wrong. Private renting is unrecognisable from 20 years ago. In that time, the sector has more than doubled in size and is now home to over 11 million people, including three million children. ... This pandemic has taught us time and again, that home is everything. Many landlords do provide a good service to their tenants, but too many are flouting the law. Meaning millions of renters don’t feel safe and secure in their own home. It’s scandalous that 22 per cent of renters have moved into a property only to find that smoke alarms, central heating or water supplies – all essential, legal requirements – don’t work. ... That’s why private renting needs a serious overhaul – but there is hope. The government has recognised a change is badly needed and its forthcoming Renters’ Reform Bill - with a promise to scrap Section 21 evictions - has the potential to be a landmark piece of legislation. But the government must go further and use this golden opportunity to make private renting fit for purpose, redress the power imbalance between landlords and tenants, and create a fairer system where tenants can fight back against law breaking behaviour. So, this Bill must include a National Landlord Register ... [Read on] (The Times)
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/51623f64-14a1-11ec-8aba-5ab73…
# Must read International, Eviction, Privacy and access, Rent, Repairs, Security and safety, Home, No-grounds evictions.‘Riddled with it’: Secret Covid-19 outbreak in housing tower
Candace Sutton news.com.au (No paywall)A Covid-19 outbreak in a housing commission tower in Sydney’s inner suburb of Redfern has been kept quiet by NSW Health, with fearful locals locked up in a building some say is “riddled with” the virus. The infected block at 57 Morehead Street, Redfern, known as “Lawson”, is one of three massive towers in which thousands of residents have been told to get tested and self-isolate. But locals say it is impossible to isolate in any of the buildings – nicknamed “the three sisters” – because of limited access via just a few lifts. Meanwhile residents are confined to their tiny flats by order of a letter shoved under their doors which commands them to keep their doors shut and avoid the lifts, entries and exits. The outbreak began around August 31 and cases have been identified in the apartment block for 13 days, a letter given to residents said. The letter, obtained by news.com.au, says “due to his exposure no visitors or new residents are permitted to come to 57 Morehead Street Redfern for the next 14 days”. However, the address is not listed among any NSW Health online locations of concern. You can check out the same story on the ABC at: [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-16/sydney-news-redfern-tower-outbreak/100464546] and on Flat Chat at: [https://www.flat-chat.com.au/redfern-blockdown/]
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/riddled-with-it-secret-…
# Hot topic NSW, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, DCJ Housing, Health.Older Tenants Voice, Spring edition
(No paywall)In this edition Housing for the Aged Action Group cover our new online forum, discuss our participation strategy, Rainbow Tick Accreditation, and of course review the latest movie about older people's housing. There's some great stories from our clients, members, and staff.
https://www.oldertenants.org.au/sites/default/files/otv-spring-2…
# Australia, Campaigns and law reform.'Robodebt' for insurance – renters around Australia being unfairly pursued
Jarni Blakkarly (No paywall)CHOICE has uncovered more examples from around Australia of renters being pursued over accidental property damage. The examples of bad practice relate to three major insurance companies. Some insurance companies are treating renters fairly, but others are not. ... You can join the campaign to ban insurers pursuing renters for debts they don’t owe. Also, see our posting of article entitled: 'Insurance giant GIO pursues Horsham couple for almost $78,000 over fire in rental property' in our issue on 9 September 2021 at: [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-09/gio-suncorp-insurance-company-wants-money-over-fire/100414092] And, check this previous report by Choice at: [https://www.choice.com.au/money/property/renting/articles/landlord-insurers-pursuing-renters]
Australia’s house prices are disconnected from reality – and the RBA wants you to know it isn’t to blame
Greg Jericho The Guardian (No paywall)Amid the insanity of house prices soaring, the head of the Reserve Bank has had enough of being blamed. With the latest data showing house prices going up faster than ever before, the head of the Reserve Bank has placed the blame squarely in the hands of the federal and state governments.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2021/sep/16/aus…
# Australia, Federal Government, Housing market, State Government.Federal election 2021: More supply won’t solve Canada’s housing affordability crisis
Joel Roberts The Conversation (No paywall)From Canada ... Few topics during the federal election campaign have garnered more attention than high house prices and a lack of housing affordability. Both Conservatives and Liberals say a major problem is a lack of housing supply. To address the issue, they promise to build millions of additional houses. Contrary to popular belief, high house prices are not due to supply shortages. The COVID-19 pandemic should have made this clear. ... Promises to build millions of more houses make it seem as though politicians are fighting hard to keep the dream of home ownership alive. In reality, it’s not a meaningful solution. But maybe that’s the point.
Politicians know that many of their constituents are relying on high house prices to secure their retirement or pay for their kids’ tuition, so it’s unlikely they even want prices to fall.
https://theconversation.com/federal-election-2021-more-supply-wo…
# International, Rent, Affordable housing, Home ownership, Housing market.Ways to better ventilate your rental to reduce mould and indoor COVID spread
Madi Chwasta ABC (No paywall)As well as badly affecting your health in the long run, it's a sure sign the ventilation in your home isn't working properly. But needing good ventilation is becoming more than just avoiding mould — the experts say it can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 indoors. It's trickier if you're living in a rental. It means you probably can't retrofit expensive ventilation systems to get the air moving in and out of your home.
However, the experts say there are things you can do ...
https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/how-to-better-ventilate-rental-h…
# Australia, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Health, Mould.RBA says surging house prices are a government problem
Shane Wright The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The Reserve Bank has urged governments to deal with tax and social security policies to bring surging house prices under control after new figures showed the biggest jump in nationwide property values on record. As the OECD said tax changes that skewed away from the housing sector would strengthen the economy and improve overall “household wellbeing”, RBA governor Philip Lowe said there were legitimate public policy issues around high property prices.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/rba-says-surging-house-p…
# Australia, Affordable housing, Federal Government, Housing market, Tax, Welfare.