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
Revolutionising public housing – firm agrees deal worth hundreds of millions
Matthew Lane (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... An innovative property and tech investment firm has revealed its plans to revolutionise the public housing sector following a private equity investment deal worth hundreds of millions. ... [Convivia's chief executive Roy Ledgister says] in recognising the growing demand for affordable homes across the UK, they have shifted 100% of their focus to the public sector with the imminent launch of an exciting new brand ... to create parity between the quality of public and private housing. (Property Investor Today)
https://www.propertyinvestortoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2021/9/rev…
# International, Public and community housing, Housing market.Grenfell Tower set to be demolished over safety concerns
Nadeem Badshah The Guardian (No paywall)Ministers are expected to announce this month that Grenfell Tower will be demolished because of safety concerns, more than four years after the fire that killed 72 people. Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, has been told that the building poses a risk to the local community ... Senior Whitehall sources told the Sunday Times that structural engineering experts hired by the government had “unambiguously and unanimously” advised that the tower should be “carefully taken down”.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/sep/04/grenfell-tower-s…
# International, Public and community housing, Security and safety.Ongoing lockdowns across Sydney and Melbourne fail to dent interest in a move to regional areas
Gemma Purves Canberra Times (Paywall)Over the past 10 weeks on Race to the Regions we've explored the impact of COVID on regional and rural Australia. What started as a trickle of interest 18 months ago has turned into a wholesale movement and it's been a pleasure to document just some of the stories of those who've made the transition from city to regional living. It's not all idyllic, some of those we've spoken to have highlighted the difficulties faced as a single person trying to make friends and build a new life during a pandemic. Others have flagged the shock that comes with the change of pace. For the most part however, it's been one of relief and joy. ... Unfortunately for a number of communities it is now the single biggest issue facing residents who rent or can't afford to purchase a home. There is no easy answer to this situation.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7417324/no-end-in-sight-i…
# Hot topic Australia, Rent, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market, Regional NSW.Property Market Boom Fuels Public Housing Crisis
Renee McKeown (No paywall)Social housing could once again become the “tenure of choice” for blue-collar workers as rent and mortgage costs continue to grow. Median house prices have hit all-time-highs in Sydney while Melbourne has now exceeded the $1-million median. Brisbane is expected to follow suit in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics. The price growth was not limited to major cities with regional areas such as Byron Bay pushing well past the $1 million mark in May. Among regions facing an “affordable housing crisis” is Apollo Bay, in Victoria’s south coast, where many people who lived and worked in the region before the pandemic can no longer afford to buy or rent. ... There was also a looming shortfall of social housing with future demand due to exceed new stock, according to a report by Compass Housing Services. [Read on] (Urban Developer)
https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/property-market-boom-…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Housing affordability.Housing crisis ousting residents, stunting growth in Australian mining communities
Larissa Waterson ABC (No paywall)Increasing rent prices along with high demand for housing are leaving many rural Australians out of pocket and overloading social services, according to social service groups and local councils. Meanwhile, prospective residents are discouraged from relocating to regional and rural communities that are crying out for new blood.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-09/mining-communities-housin…
# Australia, Rent, Housing affordability, Housing market, Regional NSW.Would you advise a friend not to buy off the plan?
Jimmy Thomson (No paywall)There was a survey of 500 apartment blocks conducted earlier this year by NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler’s team. It found that more than one-third of new buildings had serious defects. However, just as chilling was the claim that 90 per cent of strata managers and committee members said they would not recommend buying an apartment off the plan to a friend, family member or business associate. (Flat Chat)
# NSW, Strata, Housing market.Powers to ban second homes in proposed new Government crackdown
Aaron Greenaway (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... A triple clampdown is being mooted as Whitehall looks to control the impact of holiday lets on communities. Second homes could face bans under new legislation reportedly being considered by the Government. It's been reported that the Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick is planning a range of reforms that will give councils the power to ban the creation of second homes if they are deemed damaging to the community without a referendum on the issue. The changes will form part of a 'triple clampdown' which it is reported will alleviate some of the extreme housing pressures in Devon and Cornwall along with granting Councils powers to insist developers build more starter homes as opposed to focusing on properties likely to be attractive as holiday homes. New changes to planning rules could also be on the horizon, too, with a potential change of the rules to require owners of a property to get planning permission before conversion to a holiday let. (CornwallLive)
https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/powers-ban-secon…
# International, Rent, Housing market, Short-term holiday letting.The markets performing best in our biggest cities
Kate Burke Domain (No paywall)When it comes to Australia’s booming property prices, it’s no secret that not all markets are created equal. Each city has its own story to tell, and even within one city, different segments of a market can yield very different results. While the outer suburbs have led the charge in some cities, it’s the inner-city markets that have delivered the greater capital gains in others, the latest market update from PRD Real Estate shows. So which market segments have been seeing the strongest price growth in some of our biggest cities?
https://www.domain.com.au/news/the-markets-performing-best-in-ou…
# Australia, Housing market, Tax.