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
COVID Relief Bill
(No paywall)From the United States ... The emergency COVID-19 relief measure enacted in December 2020 included $25 billion in emergency rental assistance and an extension of the federal eviction moratorium through January 31. President Joe Biden on January 20 issued an executive order instructing the CDC to further extend the federal eviction moratorium until at least March 31. While the relief bill provided essential and desperately needed protections for renters, additional resources and protections are needed to address the health and housing needs of America’s lowest-income renters and people experiencing homelessness.
https://nlihc.org/coronavirus-and-housing-homelessness/covid-pac…
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.Walking through spring
Graham Hoyland (No paywall)On the way we pass the village of North Bradbury, where in the sixteenth century squatters cottages were thrown up on common land. ... The squatters cottages had an unusual legal history; if they could be built in a day and have a fire lit and smoke coming out of the chimney by sunset they were legally allowed to stay. ... Some surrounding land was allowed to be enclosed with the cottage, and this was determined by how far the new owner could throw an axe or a shovel from the four corners of the dwelling. (p 49)
https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780008156138/walking-through-s…
# History International, Squatting.CARAVAN PARK OPERATION TO PAY $2.3M AFTER LOSING HIGH COURT APPEAL
(No paywall)Companies operating a NSW Tweed River area caravan park have lost an appeal in the High Court after being ordered to pay more than $2.3 million in compensation plus interest to consumers relating to the sale of waterfront villas as “permanent residences” despite the sites not having development consent for permanent accommodation. (Medianet)
https://www.medianet.com.au/releases/197708/#:~:text=Companies%2…
# Legal significance NSW, Land lease communities, Landlords and agents.Rental Crisis Worsens Across Hunter
Lauren Kempe (No paywall)The Hunter’s rental shortage is having an impact on crisis support services across the region. One family is days from being evicted from their property, and still hasn’t found anywhere else to live, despite months of searching. (NBN News)
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2021/03/10/rental-crisis-worsens-acro…
# Video NSW, Rent, Homelessness, Housing market, Regional NSW.Rising house prices putting at risk the economic stability of the nation
By Hal Pawson and Bill Randolph Pearls and Irritations (No paywall)Housing unaffordability is causing serious economic damage that governments must treat more seriously. Put simply, rising mortgage debt poses risks for national economic stability, while current housing policies contribute to stagnating economic productivity and growth. Furthermore, when lower income workers have access to affordable housing near innovation hot spots and growth industries, the economy benefits.
https://johnmenadue.com/rising-house-prices-putting-at-risk-the-…
# Hot topic Australia, Housing affordability, Housing market.Build-to-rent surge will change apartment living for Australians, but for better or worse?
Megan Nethercote The Conversation (No paywall)Australia’s emerging build-to-rent sector is growing — “booming” by some accounts with a 70% jump in value in the past year. Under this model, institutional investors develop purpose-built rental apartments to retain and operate under single ownership. In Australia, it will change how apartments are designed and developed, how we are housed and how our tenancies are managed.
https://theconversation.com/build-to-rent-surge-will-change-apar…
# Hot topic Australia, Rent, Housing market, Tax.Zoning isn’t to blame for Australia’s soaring house prices
Mark Limb and Cameron Murray The Conversation (No paywall)Among the many explanations put forward for soaring home prices, one we hear repeatedly is zoning — the regulations that govern the purposes for which land can be used, including how densely people can be housed in different locations. The real estate industry says if only we relaxed the zoning rules and allowed more houses and apartments to be built on each block, housing would be cheaper, maybe A$355,000 per unit cheaper if the Reserve Bank is right. It’s a story as grounded in simplicity as it is (on the part of developers) in self-interest.
https://theconversation.com/zoning-isnt-to-blame-for-australias-…
# Australia, Housing affordability, Housing market, Planning and development.Whose job is it to douse this home price bonfire? Actually, nobody’s
Jessica Irvine The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)... when interest rates fall, Australian home prices skyrocket, engulfing aspiring homeowners in their fiery rage. It is all too predictable. It’s happening again right now. And nothing is being done about it. ... It may not be the current job of our Reserve Bank or APRA to curb rising home values. But it really ought to be someone’s.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/whose-job-is-it-to-d…
# Hot topic Australia, Federal Government, Housing market.