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
Housing affordability, poor quality housing among top issues for young renters, survey finds
Kate Burke Domain (No paywall)High rental prices, poor quality housing and fear of eviction are among some of the top concerns for young renters, a new report has found, alongside dodgy landlords and a lack of repair work. More than 80 per cent of young people in NSW surveyed said the cost of rental properties was a key concern, with more than 70 per cent already concerned about the cost of buying a home, according to a new report by the Tenants’ Union of NSW and Youth Action, a peak body for young people. More than seven in 10 renters felt the quality of available housing was an issue, while 68 per cent said repairs not being carried out was a key concern – with some also flagging they felt uncomfortable asking for repairs out of fear they would face a rent increase or lease termination.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/housing-affordability-poor-qualit…
# Must read, TUNSW in the media NSW, Rent, Repairs, Housing market, No-grounds evictions.Call for systemic change amid Northern Rivers housing crisis
Sally Latter Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)The Northern Rivers region is beset by soaring rental prices, social housing issues, a crisis of housing instability and homelessness. In this article Sally Latter, Coordinator of the Northern Rivers Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, shows why it's time to end no-grounds evictions and transform the housing system.
https://www.tenants.org.au/blog/northern-rivers-housing-crisis
# NSW, Public and community housing, Rent, Homelessness, Housing market, No-grounds evictions.Fees to pay rent? Third party rent payment services: an explainer
Riley Brooke Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)There’s been a little bit of buzz lately around third party rent payment services, especially across social media. So, what exactly are these services, and are they a good idea?
https://www.tenants.org.au/blog/fees-pay-rent-third-party-rent-p…
# Hot topic NSW, Rent, Landlords and agents.Concerns for Sydney tenants if lockdown continues
Emily Hutchinson (No paywall)As Sydney residents wait to hear whether a two-week lockdown will end on 9 July as planned, tenancy advocates warn an extension could push some renters into financial difficulty.
https://www.realestate.com.au/news/concerns-for-sydney-tenants-i…
# TUNSW in the media NSW, Privacy and access, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.Families face life on the street as shocking new numbers reveal depth of WA housing crisis
Marta Pascual Juanola The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)While Australia’s individual wealth is rising to record heights off the back of booming residential property prices and low interests rates, the number of West Australians staring into the homelessness abyss has skyrocketed.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/families-face-…
# Australia, Eviction, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, Health, Homelessness, Housing market, No-grounds evictions.Landlords who leave homes empty could face 400 per cent council super-tax
Chris Gee (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Landlords who leave homes empty for long periods could be hit with a 400 per cent council super-tax. Bury Council has put aside £1m to acquire homes which have stood empty for more than six months and plans to convert them to affordable housing. There are more than 1,000 properties in the borough which have stood empty for more than six months and 500 of those have been vacant for more than two years. (Manchester Evening News)
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-…
# International, Affordable housing, Housing market, Landlords and agents.'Read my words': mother's plea after Sunshine Coast rental crisis slams the door on her family
36-year-old mother of two children aged 15 and 10 (No paywall)This is an open letter to Sunshine Coast residents. The writer wishes to remain anonymous, but has supplied her name and contacts to Sunshine Coast News. We thought this story deserved to be shared and was best told in her heartfelt words … We had been renting this property for 10 months and our lease was soon to expire when, about eight weeks ago, we were advised that the landlord would be moving in, therefore we would not be able to renew our lease as intended. Common story for most renters at the moment. Am I right? ... I’ve heard stories of landlords using this excuse as a means to get the tenants out ‘without grounds,’ only afterwards the evicted tenants see the home listed at a much higher price. I can only hope that my landlord has a heart and is an honest human being and, if not, I’d rather not know about it. ... Today, for 30 per cent of my income, in this area I would be lucky to score a single room in a share house with a bunch of strangers and be forced to bunk up with my teenage son, my pre-teen daughter — sadly our beloved family pets would be so far out of the picture it’s devastating. ... [The alternative is that I'll be] living in a town where I don’t know anyone, have no family or social support, don’t feel remotely safe, won’t be getting any sleep for all of the above reasons, and have to drive 3 – 4 hours each day costing an additional $150-200 p/w that (I’m fully prepared to spend on rent rather than travel) costs more financially, regardless of the cost to the mental health and safety of me and my children but hey, it beats homelessness and living in tent city. Or does it? (Sunshine Coast News)
https://www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au/2021/07/07/sunshine-coast-r…
# Australia, Rent, Homelessness, Housing market, Landlords and agents, Personal stories, Pets, Women.Retirees flock to reverse mortgages to tap equity in their homes
John Collett The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The number of participants in the federal government’s reverse mortgage scheme has grown more than five-fold in less than two years as more retirees tap the equity tied up in their homes to pay for living expenses.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/retirees-flo…
# Australia, Federal Government, Home ownership, Older people.