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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. 

Our main email newsletter, Tenant News is sent once every two months. You can subscribe or update your subscription preferences for any of our email newsletters here.

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

Publish date
Key topics

Reality Check Campaign seeks to assist low cost housing

Aslan Shand
(No paywall)

A sense of frustration and helplessness is being felt by many in the community as they or their friends become homeless as the housing and rental prices continue to increase. But local Liz Friend has decided that it is time to take action and help people who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. She has started the Reality Check Campaign that is asking people who are relatively secure in their lives to help those who aren’t. (The Echo)

https://www.echo.net.au/2021/05/reality-check-campaign-seeks-to-…

# NSW, Rent, Homelessness, Housing affordability, Regional NSW.
 

These are the suburbs where housing affordability meets liveability

Matthew Elmas
The New Daily (No paywall)

When it comes to buying a house, there’s a sweet spot between location and price – affordable yet liveable suburbs can be elusive.

https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2021/05/27/affordabl…

# Australia, Housing affordability, Housing market.
 

Building an off-grid house for zero dollars

Ingrid Zhang
ABC (No paywall)

For 19-year-olds Rachel Ware and Jarryd Sime, from East Gippsland in Victoria, a light-hearted idea on a night out to construct an entire house with zero dollars has become a project that now takes up their weekends and earned them a loyal online following. The vision: an off-grid home built entirely by their own efforts, with zero dollars spent on materials and labour.

https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/building-off-grid-house-for-zero…

# Australia, Home ownership.
 

Wellington flat compared to 'dungeon from Parasite'

Ethan Te Ora
(No paywall)

From New Zealand ... “The landlord took us inside and it was really dim, no lights. It looked like an actual dungeon ... The place was messy. It looked like they hadn’t even cleaned ahead of the viewings.” The property was currently listed for $465 ... ”Ultimately, people have a choice as to where they want to live,” [Landlord Milan] Naran said. ”It’s up to them to make that choice. If they don’t like it, they don’t have to stay there.”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/housing-affordability/1…

# International, Rent, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards.
 

How we can drive up standards in the private rented sector

Richard Rowntree
(No paywall)

From the United Kingdom ... The days of rising damp and sub-standard boilers are numbered – standards in the private rented sector are improving and lenders can take some of the credit. But Richard Rowntree of Paragon Bank says there’s still more work to be done. (Mortgage Finance Gazette)

https://www.mortgagefinancegazette.com/market-commentary/drive-s…

# International, Rent, Repairs, Housing market, Mould.
 

As property listings halve, real estate agents are also feeling the squeeze

Loretta Lohberger and Tamara Glumac
ABC (No paywall)

A falling number of houses on the market in Tasmania is encouraging real estate agents to "race to the bottom", or leave the industry entirely, some agents say.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-29/properties-scarce-in-tasm…

# Australia, Human rights, Landlords and agents.
 

Sellers allow homebuyers to pay in Bitcoin but experts warn of 'highly volatile' currency

Sarah Cumming
ABC (No paywall)

Queensland's peak real estate body says vendors need to think carefully about accepting cryptocurrencies as payment for the sale of their homes. The owners of at least two Gold Coast properties currently listed for sale will allow buyers to pay with digital currencies, like Bitcoin. The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) said cryptocurrencies were approved for use in Australia.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-27/buying-property-with-bitc…

# Australia, Housing market.
 

The Tasmanian town of Kingston is booming, but at what cost?

Kate Ainsworth
ABC (No paywall)

Roy Maynard has called the southern Tasmanian town of Kingston home for nearly 30 years, but has been forced out due to skyrocketing rents. The Aboriginal elder was homeless for eight months after leaving the town last year, and with nowhere else to go, he moved in with his daughter and her family in the nearby town of Geeveston.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-30/kingston-tasmania-populat…

# Australia, Rent, Housing affordability, Housing market.
 

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