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
The conference explained: what does zero carbon mean for social housing?
Jess McCabe Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Zero carbon is a major strand of #Housing 2021 [Conference], and a growing priority for the country. What changes will this mean for social housing and what are the key questions to ask in sessions at the conference? [Read on]
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/the-conference-explained…
# International, Public and community housing, Repairs, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change, Housing market.Insurance giant GIO pursues Horsham couple for almost $78,000 over fire in rental property
Amy Bainbridge and Lucy Kent ABC (No paywall)Lauren Arnett was preparing dinner on a Sunday evening last year in the kitchen of the rental property she shared with her partner. Within seconds, her relaxed Sunday evening went up in smoke — quite literally. "I was preparing [dinner] and just had some oil on the stove," she said. "It was like an electric kind of solid hob, which meant that it was hard to know how much heat was coming out of it. "I called Luke over and asked him: 'how hot do you think this is?' "And in the process of us figuring that out, it burst into flames." ... But in June this year, 10 months after the fire, they received a letter from insurer GIO. ... Suncorp, the parent company of GIO, released a statement after being contacted by the ABC. “We encourage the tenants to call us as soon as possible to provide us with some details as we believe we can resolve this claim promptly, including the ability to reduce or waive costs," a spokeswoman said. ... [But] Consumer group Choice and suburban legal service Westjustice are alarmed at the number of similar cases to the Horsham couple. ... [But Choice's Erin Turner] said New Zealand had "a really clear system" and laws in place to protect renters from landlord insurers making claims." ... [In Australia, she] conceded it was a "complex" area of law, covering state and territory rental laws or property laws, that intersected with federal insurance laws.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-09/gio-suncorp-insurance-com…
# Hot topic Australia, Rent, Repairs, Federal Government, State Government.Brad Hazzard admits housing supply an issue ahead of Wilcannia's COVID-19 outbreak
Jonathon Poulson, Bension Siebert, Bill Ormonde, and Callum Marshall ABC (No paywall)NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has admitted the state government could have responded better to community concerns about the lack of housing in Wilcannia ahead of its COVID-19 outbreak. Overcrowded housing in the remote, predominantly Aboriginal far west town has been recognised for years as a public health issue. Aboriginal health service Maari Ma warned the federal government 18 months ago that "urgent and drastic action" was needed to prepare Wilcannia in case of an outbreak there. Housing Minister Melinda Pavey promised funding for five new houses in Wilcannia in April.
Wilcannia has had 102 cases of COVID-19 since last month — more than 13 per cent of the town's population. A fleet of 30 motor homes arrived in Wilcannia over the weekend to allow COVID-19 positive residents to isolate effectively.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-07/brad-hazzard-admits-wilca…
# Hot topic NSW, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, Families, Federal Government, Health, State Government.For pandemic control, housing is the best medicine
Jason Agostino, Liz Sturgiss, Katherine Thurber and Nicole Gurran (No paywall)Here's an article from April of last year that gave us plenty of notice! ... News reports have revealed glaring inequities in management of the COVID-19 pandemic, with returned overseas travellers hosted in quality hotel accommodation, while overcrowded housing presents a threat to Aboriginal people in remote communities. Ensuring access to adequate housing, for community members and health workers, is critical for pandemic control, according to the authors below. (Croakey Health Media)
https://www.croakey.org/for-pandemic-control-housing-is-the-best…
# Australia, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, Families, Federal Government, Health, State Government.Is it time to clamp down on short-term rentals in the regions?
Jack Needham (No paywall)A decade ago many travellers would have been hard pushed to find holiday accommodation in regional Australia beyond the local pub or motel. But the advent of short-term listing platforms like Airbnb and Stayz [owned by Expedia Group] has led to a proliferation of residential-style accommodation from Byron Bay to Broome. Housing experts have linked this boom in short-term letting to a shortage of rental housing stock in some communities, leading to fierce debate over whether the industry needs stronger regulation, as seen in some overseas locations. In the fourth instalment of the Australian Community Media Regional Housing Solutions series, we take a look into the link between short-term letting and affordability, and the current regulatory schemes in Australia, asking whether further steps need to be taken. (The Examiner) Missed any of the series? Read more: How did regional housing affordability get so bad? Read more: Could tiny houses solve regional Australia's housing crisis? Read more: Can build-to-rent help tackle our regional housing affordability crisis?
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/7417837/is-it-time-to-clamp-do…
# Australia, Rent, Affordable housing, Housing affordability, Housing market, Regional NSW, Short-term holiday letting.NSW Government has power to lock down entire unit blocks with one positive case
Sue Williams Domain (No paywall)Apartment residents could be hit by the most draconian COVID-19 laws ever produced by the NSW Government, which is able to lock down entire unit blocks when just one person tests positive to the virus. The police also now have new powers to patrol buildings, quiz everyone living in – and visiting – apartments for their names and phone numbers, and order them all to take COVID tests. In addition, any non-residents present at the time a block is locked down could be trapped in the building. “This is obviously a very targeted approach to multi-residential dwellings and it’s the first time there have been any clear regulations on the sector,” said strata expert Cathy Sherry, associate professor of law and justice at the University of NSW. “I think there’s a very good likelihood that it’s necessary, too. “I just think it’s a shame that the very first public health order that’s aimed at apartment buildings is all about the police powers over them.” The new regulations were issued on Monday evening, September 6, under the Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No 3) 2021 and gazetted on Tuesday. ... The new regime is expected to spark alarm among many apartment residents, particularly older residents who would be confined to barracks and forced to order food and medications online, or ask the authorities for supplies. Owners Corporation Network (OCN) spokesperson Jane Hearn said the body wanted Health NSW “to engage directly and be transparent about their strategy for supporting residents in lockdown”. “There is transmission in apartment buildings, but OCN is hearing that they lack resources to support residents,” she said. “NSW Health also needs to understand that many schemes do not have strata managers, so the communication with stakeholders needs to improve.”
https://www.domain.com.au/news/nsw-government-has-power-to-lock-…
# NSW, Strata, Coronavirus COVID-19, State Government.Public housing solar trial saves tenants hundreds
(No paywall)Public housing tenants have already saved up to $200 each within six months of the McGowan Government's Smart Energy for Social Housing trial. (Government of Western Australia Media Statement)
https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2021/09/Publ…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Utilities electricity water gas, State Government.50 not out ... Surge in towns where 50 is the new 40
Shane Wright The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)An age divide between the nation’s capital cities and the rest of their states is threatening to drive up demand for health and support services as coastal and inland regional centres rapidly grey.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/50-not-out-surge-in-town…
# Australia, Affordable housing, Health, Planning and development, Regional NSW.