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
Council backs no 180 day cap on short-term rental accommodation in the Bega Valley
Ellouise Bailey+ (No paywall)Earlier this year, the NSW Department of Planning, Environment and Industry announced that short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in Bega Valley Shire would be subject to a 180-day cap from November 2021. ... [At the June 30 Council meeting] Bega Valley Shire Councillors resolved to not to cap short-term rental accommodation in the Valley. They also resolved to write to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to advise of their position and advocate for effective measures to address the shortage of permanent rental accommodation across the shire. "Council's resolution aims to balance long term housing needs with short-term or holiday rentals," said Director of Community, Environment and Planning Dr Alice Howe. "The resolution means there will be no limit to how many nights people can rent their properties for short-term accommodation throughout the year, supporting the tourism industry which is critical to our shire."
https://www.begadistrictnews.com.au/story/7323376/council-backs-…
# NSW, Rent, Housing market, Regional NSW, Short-term holiday letting.With housing prices going up and up, anyone in the housing market is absolutely sorted!
First Dog on the Moon The Guardian (No paywall)If you’re not in the housing market you should do what I did and work hard! I had 3 jobs ... 'Meanwhile Jonty there are MPs in parliament who own more than 20 properties ...' [You can check this out at: [https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Members/Register]
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/05/with-housi…
# Australia, Federal Government, Housing market, Landlords and agents.Unfair housing
Today, Explained (No paywall)A housing watchdog says real estate companies often discriminate against low-income tenants who use federal rental assistance. Now it’s suing. (Vox)
https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/VMP5705694065?selected=VMP63390…
# Audio International, Federal Government, Housing market.Advocates criticise rental reform laws, call for protections to address 'power imbalance' between tenants and landlords
Gracie Richter ABC (No paywall)Finding a property in Queensland's current rental market is near impossible with vacancy rates at record lows. "We're looking at $200 more than what we were paying to try and get a new lease," Ms Brimson said. Her eviction comes at a time when advocates have criticised the state's rental reform bill as leaving renters with no bargaining power. They say the draft bill, which is currently before Queensland Parliament, fails to protect tenants from unfair evictions "without cause" at the end of a fixed-term contract.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-07/qld-rental-tenancy-reform…
# Australia, Rent, Campaigns and law reform, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards, No-grounds evictions, State Government.Hostel owner fails in bid to ban Perth residents, FIFOs and over-35s
Heather MvNeill The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The owner of two Perth backpackers’ hostels has failed in his legal bid to ban local guests and anyone older than 35 from staying at them over safety concerns for genuine travellers. Marco Tassi, who owns myOZexp Aberdeen Lodge and myOZexp Palmerston Lodge in Northbridge, said an increasing number of guests booking into his hostels were homeless, drug addicts or had recently been discharged from a mental health facility. ... Mr Tassi took his concerns to the State Administrative Tribunal in an attempt to ban Perth residents and those over 35 from being allowed to stay at his hostels so he could accept “genuine travellers only”. Under Australia’s Equal Opportunities Act, it is unlawful to discriminate against a person based on their age or race when offering a service. ... While accepting the concerns Mr Tassi had, Judge Kathleen Glancy ruled on Friday that excluding Australians and people over 35 from his hostel would be against the law.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/hostel-owner-f…
# Australia, Discrimination, Homelessness, Housing market.Bodies of two Australian victims found in Miami rubble after remaining condos demolished
The Guardian (No paywall)An Australian woman with a “contagious love for life” and her devoted husband are among the latest deaths confirmed after an apartment building collapsed in Florida.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/06/bodies-of-two-au…
# International, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards.Forecast of 30 per cent housing price growth could be largely realised: economists
Tawar Razaghi Domain (No paywall)A once-stunning forecast that house prices could soar as much as 30 per cent if interest rates were slashed looks set to be largely realised, top economists warn. Affordability constraints or the prospect of an interest-rate rise in the medium term might cap the growth at about 25 per cent in three years’ time, they said – but it would still be a significant jump.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/forecast-of-30-per-cent-housing-p…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market, Landlords and agents.RBA flags changes to housing market and interest rates as economy bounces back
Shane Wright and Jennifer Duke The Sydney Morning Herald (No paywall)Official interest rates could be hiked before 2024 due to the nation’s rapid economic bounce-back from the coronavirus pandemic as the Reserve Bank reveals it is already war gaming how to take heat out of the nation’s booming property market.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/rba-keeps-rates-unchange…
# Australia, Housing market.