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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See notes about the Digest and a list of other contributors here. Many thanks to those contributors for sharing links with us.
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Archive
Karrinyup locals flood city chambers furious at 24-storey apartment tower plan
Emma Young The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Plans for an apartment development on the Karrinyup shopping centre site featuring triple towers, one of which would be one of the tallest buildings in greater Perth, prompted a crowd of more than 200 locals at a special meeting at the City of Stirling Wednesday night. The proposal for the western side of the existing shopping centre features 270 apartments, plus commercial tenancies, across three towers of nine, 15 and 24 storeys, the latter being about the height of the CBD’s Westpac tower.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/karrinyup-loca…
# Australia, Housing market, Planning and development.Almost 800,000 homeowners at risk of repossession – new report
Marc Da Silva (No paywall)Almost 800,000 households could be vulnerable to repossession if they suffered a loss of income, according to a new think-tank report. Think tank, the Social Market Foundation, analysed official data and found that of the 770,000 at risk of repossession, just over a quarter – 26% – worked in retail or manufacturing, sectors badly hit by the pandemic. (Property Industry Eye)
https://propertyindustryeye.com/almost-800000-homeowners-at-risk…
# International, Coronavirus COVID-19, Home ownership.Are you Stoked by NSW planning vision? Don’t be - beneath its friendly cloak lurks Jack the Ripper
Elizabeth Farrelly The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Bold and beautiful? Sometimes it’s hard to tell if they’re stupid, or they just think we are. Planning Minister Rob Stokes says his new “Design and Place” State Environmental Planning Policy is bold. He says it will make our towns and cities “just get more beautiful” every year.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/are-you-stoked-by-nsw-planni…
# NSW, Planning and development, State Government.Tenant News
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)Facebook - something went wrong: Like many other advocacy groups, unions and government agencies, the Tenants' Union got caught in the crossfire between Facebook, News Corp and the federal government. Our Facebook page was temporarily wiped, we couldn't post anything, and no one could share anything from our website – not even legal information. ... And lots more news and stories in this issue.
https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=29c79d2825cb376b3f0b06385&id…
# Must read NSW, Eviction, Rent, Campaigns and law reform, Coronavirus COVID-19, Disability, Health, Homelessness, Landlords and agents.Getting your LL plates?
Leo Patterson Ross Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)There is currently a petition in NSW Parliament for the creation of a “Landlord non-compliance register”. Though the Tenants’ Union of NSW did not create this petition, you should consider signing it if the issues resonate with you. We also think Government should act to address the issues in it, because it speaks to some of the most frustrating aspects of renting in NSW and Australia. But will it achieve its goal of promoting accountability amongst landlords? Do some in the industry actually need more assistance to earn their landlord plates? Read on ...
# Must read NSW, Rent, Tribunal NCAT, Landlords and agents, NSW Fair Trading, State Government, Tenant databases.Open Justice Review –Court and Tribunal information: access, disclosure and publication
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)This submission to the Law Reform Commission’s 'Open Justice Review – Court and tribunal information: access, disclosure and publication' focuses on two specific areas concerning open justice and civil matters, specifically matters relating to tenancy, social housing, and residential communities: (1) publication of reasons for decisions at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and (2) provision of statistical data relating to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
https://files.tenants.org.au/policy/20210216_TUNSW_Submission_Op…
# Legal significance NSW, Tribunal NCAT.Responses to Homelessness, January 2021
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)Everyone deserves a home. Housing is the basis from which we ensure our communities’ well-being. This is not simply about the material, physical and structural protections housing provides, but also a sense of home and belonging within a wider community. The NSW housing system, and in particular the private rental market, has failed to ensure everyone has access to safe, secure, affordable housing. This failure increases both the risk of homelessness for vulnerable renting households, and the barriers to people developing a pathway out of homelessness. Read on ...
https://www.tenants.org.au/news/responses-homelessness-january-2…
# Must read NSW, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Homelessness.Welsh renters given stronger protections against Section 21 evictions
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)In Wales ... From spring 2022, landlords in Wales must give tenants six months’ notice in the case of no-fault evictions, compared with the current two-month notice period. Landlords will only be able to serve notice six months after tenants have moved in, meaning tenants will have the security of a minimum 12-month contract as long as they do not breach the terms of their contract. ... Section 21 evictions have come under increased criticism in recent years, with many charities and campaign groups arguing that they are a leading cause of homelessness. The UK government has committed to abolishing section 21 evictions in England, however the housing minister has repeatedly said that legislation will not be introduced until after the pandemic is over.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/welsh-renters-given-st…
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent.