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
Raising dam wall could lead to more development on floodplain, Emergency Minister says
Angus Thompson The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott says raising the Warragamba Dam wall could pave the way for the release of more land for development in Sydney’s north-west, putting him at odds with his ministerial colleagues.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/emergency-minister-says-rais…
# NSW, Housing market, Planning and development.ANZ’s retail boss says lending curbs not imminent
Charlotte Grieve The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)ANZ’s retail banking boss Mark Hand says restrictions on home lending are not imminent but could be an option in slowing down sky-rocketing property prices.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/anz-s-retail…
# Australia, Housing market.New Zealand housing crisis: Jacinda Ardern says rent-increase warnings are 'speculative'
Elle Hunt The Guardian (No paywall)New Zealand’s government is playing down the impact of its housing policy changes on rents, despite economists warning that they are likely to rise in response. ... The finance minister Grant Robertson said over the weekend that the government would be monitoring rents for potential increases and would “take action if necessary”.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/29/new-zealand-housin…
# Hot topic International, Rent, Housing market, Tax.War of words heats up as governments pass the buck on housing crisis
Hannah Ross and Elloise Farrow-Smith ABC (No paywall)In Byron Shire, councillors voted last week to declare a "housing emergency" and establish a place where locals squeezed out of permanent housing can park vans and cars they're living in. Deputy mayor Michael Lyon hopes other councils experiencing housing affordability and availability issues will make a similar declaration. "The hope is that if everyone calls this out for what it is, that we are going to actually get more support from the levels of government that can really provide it," Cr Lyon said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-28/blame-game-on-housing-cri…
# Must read NSW, Affordable housing, Federal Government, Homelessness, Local Government, State Government, Women.Rental listings soaring in some areas but renters still struggling to find affordable homes
Stephanie Chalmers ABC (No paywall)Further up the east coast, in Newcastle, NSW, Nicole Grgas has never been busier. "We've been receiving a lot of calls, certainly a lot more calls than around this time last year … almost 50 per cent of our calls now relate to people facing eviction," Ms Grgas, the coordinator of Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, said. ... "What tenants are reporting is that when they're going to open houses, they're finding there can be upwards of 30 groups going through, so that's a lot of competition," she said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-26/rental-listings-have-soar…
# Hot topic, TUNSW in the media Australia, Rent, Affordable housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, Regional NSW.Millions of tenants could get evicted again in 7 days, but Biden may extend the ban through at least July
Ayelet Sheffey (No paywall)From the United States ... The federal eviction moratorium that President Joe Biden extended on his first day in office is set to expire in seven days, but ... the White House may extend the ban through at least July. ... one in five renters is behind on rent, and over 10 million Americans have fallen behind on mortgage payments since COVID-19 began. That’s why Biden’s stimulus plan included more than $US40 ($53) billion in assistance for homeowners and renters behind on payments. But due to implementation delays, many Americans haven’t yet received direct payments from the government, putting them at risk of eviction. ... the Biden administration is considering extending the moratorium eviction through at least July to buy more time for stimulus aid to be distributed. (Business Insider Australia)
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/biden-might-extend-eviction-m…
# Hot topic International, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Federal Government, Home ownership.Homeless surge possible as COVID moratorium on evictions ends
Claudia Farhart SBS (No paywall)The NSW government's moratorium on the eviction of residential tenants affected by COVID-19 is due to expire on March 27. You can also read her article at: [https://www.sbs.com.au/news/a-wave-of-homelessness-could-be-about-to-hit-australia-as-rules-preventing-evictions-end?cid=newsapp:socialshare:email]
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/audiotrack/homeless-surge-possible-c…
# Hot topic, TUNSW in the media, Video NSW, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, State Government.DOUBLING DOWN ON NEW SOCIAL HOUSING IN GLEBE
(No paywall)The NSW Government is continuing to deliver more new, high-quality social housing across Sydney, by reimagining its visionary housing development on Cowper Street and Wentworth Park Road in Glebe to now deliver 100 per cent new social housing. (Media Release, Melinda Pavey MP)
https://melindapavey.com.au/doubling-down-on-new-social-housing-…
# Hot topic NSW, Public and community housing, Estate renewal.