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 banks beating first-time buyers to new homes
Imogen Tew, Hannah Al-Othman and Cameron Charters (No paywall)For first-time buyers looking for an affordable home within a reasonable distance of London, the flats in Peterborough’s newest development tick every possible box. ... [But] they found themselves up against a serious contender: Lloyds Banking Group. Britain's second largest bank scooped up 45 homes ... off the plan when they went on sale in September 2018. (The Times)
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-banks-beating-first-time-…
# International, Affordable housing, Housing market.Lenders mortgage insurance jumps as house prices boom, but most home buyers don't realise it only protects the bank
Emilia Terzon ABC (No paywall)Australia's COVID property boom has pushed more people into paying for costly mortgage insurance that protects their bank, while only adding to the borrower's mounting pile of debt. Exclusive data given to ABC News shows there has been a rise in the number of lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) policies being taken out. LMI has been a contentious financial product for years. It is a lump sum insurance product that many lenders expect people to pay for when they take out a mortgage with less than a 20 per cent deposit. While the borrower pays for it, it does not protect them.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-09/lenders-mortgage-insuranc…
# Australia, Home ownership, Tax.Problems loom while south-east Queensland’s population booms
Tony Moore The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)A funding shortfall of just $1 million is holding up planning for a major multi-billion-dollar rail project to Brisbane’s west. ... At the heart of the issue is the incredible population growth being experienced in the western corridor.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/problems-loom-while-s…
# Australia, Planning and development.Scottish Greens co-leader appointed minister for zero carbon buildings and tenants’ rights
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)A first, from Scotland: Minister for Tenants' Rights, with the responsibility of a new deal for tenants ... Patrick Harvie and fellow Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater are both set to become ministers in the Holyrood government, marking the first time Green Party representatives have been appointed to government in any part of the UK. Mr Harvie will be minister for zero carbon buildings, active travel and tenants’ rights. Read more in the Scottish Housing News at: [https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/article/patrick-harvie-set-to-be-appointed-as-minister-for-tenants-rights]. Read more on the BBC at: [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58268743]. Read more in The Guardian at: [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/30/co-leaders-of-scottish-greens-to-become-ministers-at-holyrood]. Read the Scottish Government's media release at: [https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/minister-for-zero-carbon-buildings-active-travel-and-tenants-rights/#:~:text=Patrick%20Harvie%20MSP%20was%20appointed,Tenants'%20Rights%20in%20September%202021].
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/scottish-greens-co-leader-a…
# Must read International, Rent, Utilities electricity water gas, Campaigns and law reform, Climate change, Housing market, Human rights, State Government.‘It’s a public health emergency’: Call for nine actions to stop domestic, family, sexual violence
Kelly Fuller ABC (No paywall)More than 100 different health and education experts have signed an open letter supporting nine key actions they want adopted that will be presented at next week's national women's safety summit in Canberra.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-03/open-letter-on-dv-and-tra…
# Australia, Domestic violence, Public and community housing, Affordable housing, Health, Women.Rent relief extended for landlords and tenants
Jimmy Thomson (No paywall)The NSW Government has announced an increase to the Residential Tenancy Support Package to up to $4,500 per tenancy and an extension to the eviction moratorium until 11 November 2021, giving increased security to residential tenants impacted by COVID-19. (Flat Chat) You can check out this media release from the NSW Liberal party at: [https://nsw.liberal.org.au/Shared-Content/News/2021/Financial-assistance-extended-for-tenants-and-landlords].
# NSW, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, State Government.Mission Australia’s Common Ground Camperdown homelessness service in lockdown after four COVID cases
(No paywall)A six-storey residential building in Sydney’s inner west for those experiencing homelessness has been placed into lockdown after four tenants tested positive for COVID-19. Mission Australia confirmed to 7NEWS.com.au that its Common Ground facility in Camperdown, which includes 104 units, was placed into lockdown at 8am and will remain so for two weeks until Wednesday, September 15. (7news) You will find the same story at: [https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/social-housing-estate-forced-lockdown]
https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/mission-australi…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, Health.Advocates say government’s women’s summit must address housing ‘crisis’
Josh Butler The New Daily (No paywall)Social agencies are pleading with the federal government to take a housing “crisis” more seriously, after the issue of emergency accommodation for domestic violence survivors only got a “fleeting reference” in the federal women’s safety summit this week. Many thousands of women each year are left with little option but to return to their abusers or become homeless, a situation that social advocates say must be urgently rectified. The federal Labor opposition has slammed the government for having “failed to listen” to survivors of family violence by not making the issue a higher priority.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/09/06/womens-summit-housing…
# Hot topic Australia, Domestic violence, Homelessness, Housing market, Women.