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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See notes about the Digest and a list of other contributors here. Many thanks to those contributors for sharing links with us.
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Archive
New housing supply, population growth and access to social infrastructure
Somwrita Sarkar, Emily Moylan, Hao Wu, Rashi Shrivastava, Nicole Gurran, David Levinson, AHURI (No paywall)This research tests the usefulness of new datasets to inform the forward planning of social and community infrastructure in rapidly growing areas of Australian cities. It focusses on greenfield areas of Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth to demonstrate data sources and methods that can be replicated in other locations.
https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/356?utm_source=Z…
# Research alert Australia, Planning and development.Is it worth selling my house if I’m going into aged care?
Colin Zhang The Conversation (No paywall)or senior Australians who cannot live independently at home, residential aged care can provide accommodation, personal care and general health care. People usually think this is expensive. And many assume they need to sell their home to pay for a lump-sum deposit.
But that’s not necessarily the case.
https://theconversation.com/is-it-worth-selling-my-house-if-im-g…
# Australia, Rent, Home ownership, Housing market, Older people.The Price of Ubers and Airbnbs Is About to Get Jacked Up
Dan Robitzski (No paywall)Unfortunately for everyone who got used to booking suspiciously-cheap rides across town or taking affordable vacations while living in a stranger’s home, companies like Airbnb and Uber are emerging from the pandemic much more expensive than they were before. (Futurism)
# International, Rent, Housing market, Short-term holiday letting.Trying to stay warm? Here’s the most cost-effective way to heat a room
Sean Naden and Nick O'Malley The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Houses better designed for winter – or even retro-fitted for it – with fewer cracks, better glazing and better insulation, would have left Australians more comfortable this week, Australia’s leading expert in the niche field of thermal comfort says.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/trying-to-stay…
# Australia, Minimum habitability standards.‘Complex, wicked problem’: Creaking towers are alarming engineers
Charlotte Grieve The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Creaking noises in high rise buildings are caused by developers using new technology to cut costs and a regulator that is slow to act, engineers say, prompting fears about fire safety and driving calls for a national review of construction products. The Age has reported creaking noises that have tormented residents of Melbourne’s tallest towers, including Australia 108, Prima Pearl, Aurora, Melbourne Square and now Premier Tower – many constructed by building giant Multiplex. ... Structural engineer and researcher Scott Menegon said creaking noises can occur as a result of developers using new technology to build flexible towers while continuing to use old products, such as wall and ceiling systems, that are not designed to bend.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/complex-wicked-problem-…
# Australia, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards.Northern housing associations launch tenant climate jury
Dominic Brady Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) has launched a first-of-its-kind tenants’ jury to consider how residents, social landlords and others can tackle climate change. ... The Social Housing Tenants’ Climate Jury will select 30 tenants from project partners Karbon Homes, Yorkshire Housing, Thirteen Group, Salix Homes and First Choice Homes Oldham. In particular the jury will look at retrofitting to understand tenants’ preferences on how this should be undertaken in their homes. Tenants will also have a chance to say what information they need before, during and after the retrofit process to use low-carbon heating technology confidently.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/northern-housing-associatio…
# International, Public and community housing, Utilities electricity water gas, Climate change.More than 80% of councils now own housing companies, research finds
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)More than 80% of local authorities in England currently own housing companies and the number of councils entering into joint ventures (JVs) is also on the rise, new research has found. ... The report said the increase in the number of councils building outside of the Housing Revenue Account may be connected to a proliferation in JVs with private sector partners or housing associations to deliver new homes.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/more-than-80-of-councils-no…
# International, Public and community housing, Housing market, Local Government.June 2021 News
Shelter NSW (No paywall)Check out the latest housing news from Shelter NSW:
Housing Affordability in Canterbury Bankstown
More proposals for inner city public land - 600–660 Elizabeth Street, Redfern
City of Sydney expands its affordable rental scheme
John Engeler, Shelter NSW CEO, on New Generation Boarding Houses
Shelter NSW supports capacity building to deliver better housing and planning outcomes for Aboriginal communities across NSW
Second members meeting wrap-up.
https://mailchi.mp/shelternsw/shelter-nsw-june-2021-ebulletin?e=…
# NSW, Campaigns and law reform.