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
Australians face a hotter future if our cities don't do more to cool 'heat islands', report finds
Stephanie Zillman ABC (No paywall)Most major Australian cities will be far hotter than forecast in coming years, as a lack of vegetation creates "heat islands," especially in poorer areas, a new report warns.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-11/australians-face-unliveab…
# Research alert Australia, Planning and development.Khan confirms plans to prioritise key workers for intermediate affordable housing
Nathaniel Barker Inside Housing (Paywall)London mayor Sadiq Khan has confirmed plans to prioritise key workers, such as nurses and firefighters, for new build intermediate-level affordable homes. The Greater London Authority (GLA) will develop a list of essential workers with help from trade unions, emergency services and councils. Planning guidance will then be updated to place an expectation on local authorities to give people in listed occupations priority access to rent or buy new homes for affordable tenures considered ‘intermediate’ by the GLA.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/khan-confirms-plans-to…
# International, Rent, Affordable housing, Housing market, Local Government.Victoria to draw on $27b social housing stock to solve housing crisis
Tom Burton (Paywall)The man hand-picked to drive the construction of 12,000 new Victorian homes says the state will take advantage of the $27 billion in social housing it already has to drive investment into new affordable build-to-rent stock. A push to engage with super funds and property developers will form part of a broader program by the newly formed Homes Victoria to use the $5.3 billion big housing build project that was announced in November to reset housing policy. (Financial Review)
https://www.afr.com/property/residential/victoria-to-draw-on-27b…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Rent, Affordable housing, Housing market.What to do if your relationship ends but your lease doesn't
William Jolly (No paywall)Here’s what happens if you break up with someone you signed a lease with, and what you need to do. (savings.com.au)
https://www.savings.com.au/home-loans/buying-first-home/what-to-…
# TUNSW in the media Australia, Domestic violence, Rent, You want to leave, Break fees.How to maintain your solar panel system
Grace Smith (No paywall)A good quality solar system that's been properly installed should run smoothly for years. But regular maintenance can help make sure your system is functioning safely and efficiently. ... [But] renters with solar – who's responsible?
https://www.choice.com.au/home-improvement/energy-saving/solar/a…
# TUNSW in the media Australia, Utilities electricity water gas.Waterloo South proposals – stacking Lego blocks
Geoff Turnbull (No paywall)The proposals for the future of Waterloo South produced by the City of Sydney Council (CoS) and Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) are now public. CoS decided it needed to match LAHC’s number of units (yield). As a result, Waterloo South will become the densest residential development in the CoS local government area with 3,300 units within 12 hectares, which includes over two hectares of parks and new streets. The dispute is no longer about how many units go into the development, it’s now about how and where to stack the Lego blocks ... [read on]. (The South Sydney Herald)
https://southsydneyherald.com.au/waterloo-south-proposals-stacki…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Estate renewal, Local Government, Planning and development.$1,400 stimulus checks and vaccine funds: what the Covid relief bill contains
Lauren Gambino The Guardian (No paywall)The US House on Wednesday passed the huge $1.9tn coronavirus relief and economic stimulus package ... One of the main elements of the bill is 'Rental, mortgage and food assistance": The legislation also includes a number of other provisions that would provide assistance for food and housing, including money for low-income Americans to afford rent and pay their utilities, and aid to homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages because of the pandemic.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/10/us-covid-stimulu…
# Hot topic International, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Home ownership.Government issues COVID-19 guidance for people in overcrowded housing
Nathaniel Barker Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... The government has for the first time released coronavirus guidance aimed specifically at people living in overcrowded or shared housing. ... It includes suggestions for letting air into the home, cleaning, handling food and the use of bathrooms. Landlords are advised to close non-essential indoor communal space in buildings where social distancing is not possible and to pay increased attention “to any potential defects in sanitary plumbing systems in residential blocks, such as unexplained odours". You will find the 'guidance' at: [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-shared-and-overcrowded-housing-reducing-the-risk-of-infection]
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/government-issues-covi…
# Hot topic International, Coronavirus COVID-19, Health, Home.