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
Non-binary renter has to 'straightwash' themself to appeal to landlords
Geraden Cannb (No paywall)From New Zealand ... In March 2018, home ownership was at its lowest in almost 70 years. Since then the median price has almost doubled and rent is up by a quarter. Stuff’s Off the Ladder series talks to those priced out of the market. Before flat viewings, Rae Ahern takes off their jewellery, hides their dyed hair and changes their clothes. The Wellingtonian, who is non-binary, says they and their girlfriend have to “straightwash” themselves to appeal to landlords in an overcrowded market. (Stuff)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/housing-affordability/3…
# International, Discrimination, Rent, Landlords and agents.A look at Germany’s growing housing shortage
(No paywall)Affordable housing in German cities is increasingly hard to find. What went wrong and can it be fixed? (International Union of Tenants)
https://www.iut.nu/news-events/germany-podcast-a-look-at-germany…
# Video International, Affordable housing.Growth much better than expected: RBA
Colin Brinsden The New Daily (No paywall)Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe says the Australian economy is in striking distance of recovering to its pre-pandemic levels after materially better than expected growth results. ... The governor said low interest rates are one of the factors contributing to the rise in housing prices. “I would like to reiterate that the RBA does not target housing prices, nor would it make sense to do so,” he said. “There are various tools, other than higher interest rates, to address these concerns, leaving monetary policy to maintain its strong focus on the recovery in the economy, jobs and wages.”
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2021/03/10/growth-re…
# Australia, Federal Government, Housing market.‘Inefficient’ to fund aged care through superannuation: Retirement review chairman
Rachel Clun and Jennifer Duke The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The chairman of a historic review into the retirement sector wants more people to be forced to pay for their own aged care but has rejected an industry push to reserve a portion of superannuation for these costs.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/inefficient-to-fund-aged…
# Australia, Federal Government, Older people.‘Frozen in time’: Heritage The Rocks precinct up for sale, potential development
Jenny Brown (Paywall)The mostly late Victorian agglomeration of terraces – nine currently tenanted – come under the custodianship of the NSW government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. And, although this sales pitch looks like a final rousing flurry in the four-year selling campaign of 189 other department-owned properties from 2014-18 that occurred around proximate Millers Point, this is not the first time the Longs Lane grouping has come to market. ... A department spokesman says the precinct was marketed in late 2019, but paused at the beginning of the pandemic. (commercialrealestate.com.au)
https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/frozen-in-time-heri…
# NSW, Heritage listings.Welfare advocates concerned 'perfect storm' brewing in Tasmania as rental demand outstrips supply
Alexandra Humphries ABC (No paywall)For 10 months, Paul Richardson has been hunting for an affordable rental property near Launceston, without any luck. After three years in his St Leonards home, Mr Richardson is facing a rent increase of almost 18 per cent, taking his weekly payments from $340 to $400 a week — an amount he cannot cover. After three years in his St Leonards home, Mr Richardson is facing a rent increase of almost 18 per cent, taking his weekly payments from $340 to $400 a week — an amount he cannot cover.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-15/affordable-rental-demand-…
# Hot topic Australia, Rent, Affordable housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, State Government.Warnings over proposed overhaul of responsible mortgage lending
John Collett The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Record high mortgage lending to owner-occupiers, surging property prices and lenders offering low deposit mortgages could make for a perfect storm if the government’s attempt to repeal responsible lending obligations is successful, critics warn. They say loosening responsible lending obligations would add fuel to the already hot property market and increase indebtedness, leaving home owners struggling to meet repayments if interest rates were to rise.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/borrowing/warnings-over-proposed-ov…
# Australia, Affordable housing, Federal Government, Home ownership.Super chair warns using retirement funds for housing is ‘destructive’
Jennifer Duke The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The chairman of Australia’s biggest retirement fund has criticised Coalition backbenchers for opposing an increase to the superannuation guarantee. AustralianSuper chairman Don Russell said a faction of about a dozen Liberal and National MPs and senators fighting the superannuation guarantee rise from 9.5 per cent to 12 per cent was “puzzling” considering the Coalition had historically valued lighthanded government regulation and individual choice.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/super-chair-warns-using-…
# Australia, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market.