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
BEIS opens bidding for first wave of Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
Nathaniel Barker Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has estimated that this round of funding will see up to 38,000 social homes receive energy-efficiency upgrades such as insulation or new doors, windows and heating systems. Tenants whose homes have works funded through the scheme will also save around £170 a year on energy bills, the department added. You can read the BEIS media release at: [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/warmer-greener-and-cheaper-homes-as-government-opens-a-triple-win-upgrade-for-social-housing]
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/beis-opens-bidding-for…
# International, Public and community housing, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change, Federal Government, Housing market.Australia's fertility rate is at a record low. This expert says it's a disaster waiting to happen
Anna Kelsey-Sugg and Skye Docherty for Saturday Extra ABC (No paywall)[ANU demographer Liz Allen says] 'It's very unlikely Australia will ever see a baby boom again, let alone now during a health and economic crisis like COVID-19." Australia's not alone. It's following a global trend, with other countries including the UK and US, Italy, Japan and South Korea that are also experiencing significant fertility decline. ... A low fertility rate isn't a problem "in its own right", Dr Allen says. However, combined with an aging population, it equates to "economic uncertainty", posing the question as to how Australia can remain economically strong with fewer people to contribute to "government coffers". ... "You feel insecure in your employment, you're not sure what the world's going to look like in five years' time, you don't know whether you're going to be able to afford to buy a property [or] will be in expensive short-term rental accommodation." Concerns such as these take a toll.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-24/fertility-rates-in-austra…
# Australia, Rent, Affordable housing, Families, Health, Young people.A missed opportunity: Big Housing Build leaves Broadmeadows behind
Joseph Haweil The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Mention Broadmeadows and the immediate response of most interlocutors can easily be predicted. Often fear, sometimes disdain, but always pity. These responses reflect the pervading stigma that continues to associate this battler community with its most frequent media characterisation, focusing on sky-high levels of unemployment, family violence, crime and endemic generational disadvantage. These responses belie the truth about Broadmeadows. That it is in fact home to a proud and resilient community of welcoming families, friends and neighbours who look out for each other and work hard to build a better future. While there is no concealing the significant challenges facing Broadmeadows, history has proven that the suburb has consistently been placed in the “too-hard basket” and completely forgotten – much like the suburb’s largest social housing site, Banksia Gardens. Home to one of the state’s most vulnerable communities, Banksia Gardens is a stark example of how successive governments – from both sides of the political divide – have walked away from and forgotten about social housing in Broadmeadows. ... With most of Broadmeadows’ social housing being constructed between 1950 and 1969, the houses across the suburb, and particularly at Banksia Gardens, fall well short of the liveability that the residents rightly want and deserve. Too many homes are in some instances, literally falling apart. ... The redevelopment of Broadmeadows’ social housing must be a key Big Housing Build funding priority; not merely an afterthought. I take the Premier at his word when he says the Big Housing Build program will change lives. It’s time for the Victorian government to see the immense opportunity that the people of Broadmeadows see, right the wrongs of the past and change lives where the need is greatest.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/a-missed-opportunity-bi…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Repairs, Estate renewal, Minimum habitability standards, State Government.Climate change: Consumer 'confusion' threatens net zero homes plan
Matt McGrath BBC (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Government plans to decarbonise homes are too complicated and confusing, according to a coalition of consumer and industry groups. They've written to the prime minister to say that current schemes to adapt homes go wrong far too often. The open letter, from Citizens Advice and others, calls for more financial support for making changes. Otherwise, they argue, efforts to curb emissions from millions of homes in the UK will be at risk.
# International, Public and community housing, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change, Housing market.‘Draughty and inefficient’ homes are worse for climate than cars
Liam Geraghty (No paywall)Homes are bigger polluters than cars, ministers have been warned in a plea to boost England’s climate change fight by retrofitting social homes. Homes produce 58.5 million tonnes of CO2 every year, the National Housing Federation (NHF) has calculated, equivalent to the output of 28 million cars – more than the 27 million currently on the country’s roads. The figures show it is crucial to start making homes more efficient, said Kate Henderson, NHF chief executive. (The Big Issue)
https://www.bigissue.com/latest/homes-pollute-more-than-cars-and…
# International, Public and community housing, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change, Housing market.England: Planning system perpetuates racism
(No paywall)New research ... has found that the planning process in England is reinforcing racial inequality, despite having clear potential to support the needs of ethnic minority residents. ... The team found that planners and housing professionals lack the confidence, skills and resources required to actively address racial inequality in housing, perpetuating socially conservative outcomes and limiting opportunities for achieving racial equality. The findings also revealed a view within the planning profession that formal equality of treatment is sufficient in the pursuit of social justice, but it is not translating into equality of outcome for multiple groups. ... Public consultation opportunities were found to reinforce existing unequal power relationships by favouring those with the time, knowledge, and confidence to participate. The evidence showed that not enough is being done to engage residents from ethnic minority, low-income and other less frequently heard groups. (Scottish Housing News)
https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/article/england-planning-sys…
# International, Planning and development, Race and ethnicity.Why lockdowns aren’t suppressing house prices
Clancy Yeats The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)So, why is the market behaving so differently this time around? And if the economy is taking a hit from the lockdowns, why isn’t the housing market? Property watchers say prices are still rising because demand for homes remains surprisingly strong and the supply of properties for sale is falling.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/why-lockdowns-aren-t-supp…
# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.Neighbours have right to retrieve lost balls, cats under new Belgian law
James Crisp The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)A new property law comes into force [in Belgian] on September 1 that will allow people to retrieve a ball or wandering pet from a neighbour’s garden without asking for permission. Under current rules, the neighbour can refuse access.
https://amp.smh.com.au/world/europe/neighbours-have-right-to-ret…
# International, Privacy and access.