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
Newcastle and Hunter rental market's alarm bells are ringing louder
(Paywall)THE idiom safe as houses may taste bitter in the mouths of some who are struggling
to lease a property and keep a roof over their head among a tight market that market
watchers say shows little signs of easing any time soon. Meanwhile, house values
are soaring and buyer demand has roared. (Newcastle Herald, Editorial)
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7164361/the-volume-is-r…
# Hot topic NSW, Rent, Housing market, Regional NSW.Prospective tenants dressing nice, offering more to secure a rental home in competitive market
Sage Swinton (Paywall)Prospective tenants have described offering more money and even dressing nicely at open homes in a bid to secure a property in Newcastle's highly competitive rental market. (Newcastle Herald)
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7165594/offering-more-d…
# Hot topic NSW, Rent, Housing market, Regional NSW.Midlands authority to charge premium council tax on thousands of empty homes
Dominic Brady Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Birmingham Council will begin charging twice as much council tax on homes that have been sitting empty for more than two years in an attempt bring the properties back into use. The changes will come into force in April and see owners of properties that have been empty for more than two years but less than five years pay 100% of their council tax plus an additional 100% premium, effectively doubling the rate paid. ... [for those] which have been empty for more than five years but less than 10 years ... these will be charged a 200% premium on top of their annual bill. The largest premium being introduced, for those unoccupied for more than 10 years, will have a premium of 300% to pay.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/midlands-authority-to-…
# Must read International, Homelessness, Housing market, Local Government, Tax.Ballina MP Tamara Smith supports call for fairness
David Lowe (No paywall)A deputation of courageous residents of residential land lease communities around Ballina have joined local MP Tamara Smith in calling for changes to the Act governing their communities, in the face of increasing exploitation and inequity. (The Echo)
https://www.echo.net.au/2021/03/ballina-mp-tamara-smith-supports…
# NSW, Land lease communities, Regional NSW, State Government.More borrowers tipped to fall behind on mortgages as support schemes expire
Clancy Yeates The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Credit rating agency Moody’s warns a growing number of borrowers will struggle to meet their mortgage payments in the coming months, as COVID-19 emergency support schemes come to an end.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/more-borrowe…
# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing market.100,000 more affordable homes
(No paywall)Scotland’s 20-year vision for housing ... Plans to deliver 100,000 affordable homes over the next decade are set out today in a 20-year housing strategy. Recognising the importance of everyone having a safe and affordable home that meets their needs, Housing to 2040 – Scotland’s first long-term housing strategy – outlines what the Scottish Government wants housing and communities to look and feel like for the people of Scotland, with actions on how to get there. (Scottish Government)
# International, Public and community housing, Rent, Affordable housing.City slickers encouraged to go regional in new campaign, despite housing affordability concerns
Kate Burke Domain (Paywall)Finding an affordable home has become tough in parts of regional Australia and could become tougher still, with a new campaign launched to encourage city slickers to move to the regions.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/cityslickers-encouraged-to-go-reg…
# Hot topic Australia, Affordable housing, Housing market, Regional NSW.Australian house prices set to jump further before any curbs on lending by APRA
Elizabeth Redman Domain (Paywall)Housing prices appear set to rise before the bank regulator takes any action to slow the market, with the latest official figures showing little deterioration in lending standards late last year. Soaring property prices have caught the attention of the nation’s regulators, but they have emphasised they do not yet see any worrying rise in risky loans.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/australian-house-prices-set-to-ju…
# Australia, Federal Government, Housing market.