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
International student accommodation almost empty as sector battles with COVID-19 quarantine and border restrictions
Kristian Silva ABC (No paywall)On Melbourne's Swanston Street, the final touches are being put on a $100 million tower for as many as 750 university students. ... But the building is likely to be mostly empty when the new semester begins in about six weeks. ... With Australia's borders shut to countries other than New Zealand, it appears unlikely many foreign students will be able to return in the coming months.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-15/international-student-gho…
# Hot topic Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Students.Coronavirus: Government's rough sleeping strategy 'out of step'
Jennifer Scott BBC (No paywall)From United Kingdom ... The government must review its strategy to end rough sleeping in England by 2024 after coronavirus showed it to be "out of step", a watchdog warned. A National Audit Office report praised the 'Everyone In' scheme, which housed about 33,000 people in the crisis. But the plan highlighted issues with the current strategy - with thousands more needing help than expected. ... At the time, a snapshot figure taken by the government one evening showed 4,266 people were sleeping on the streets in England. But it did not include people in night shelters or assessment centres, and could have missed people sleeping hidden from view.
# Hot topic International, Coronavirus COVID-19, Homelessness.Strong interstate demand to keep rental market tight
Ian Bushnell (No paywall)Canberra’s strong economy and success withstanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are generating heavy demand for rental properties, with rents continuing to rise in 2020 to be the most expensive in the country alongside shrinking vacancies.
https://the-riotact.com/strong-interstate-demand-to-keep-rental-…
# Australia, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.Help shape the future of strata in NSW
(No paywall)If you own, live or rent in a strata property, such as a townhouse or apartment, or work in strata, we want to hear your views on how the laws are working. We’re reviewing the rules . [Read on]
https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/strata-statutory-review-2020
# New policy announcement NSW, Strata, NSW Fair Trading, Pets, State Government.‘We did it all’: The father-daughter duo who built a tiny house from scratch
Brigid Blackney Domain (Paywall)Tiffany Falzon had been a Sydneysider for almost a decade when she had an idea that sparked a move back to her small South Australian hometown. She decided it was time to enlist her dad’s help to build a coastal tiny house that could accommodate guests in Marion Bay (around three hours’ drive from Adelaide) where she grew up. Read more ...
https://www.domain.com.au/living/we-did-it-all-the-father-daught…
# Australia, Granny flats, studios, Short-term holiday letting.Sunshine Coast woman charged with fraud after allegedly luring desperate renters to pay for a fake rental home
Tass Cassidy ABC (No paywall)A woman on Queensland's Sunshine Coast has been charged with fraud and forgery after she allegedly preyed on vulnerable people desperate to secure a rental property. It is alleged Patricia Anne McIntyre, 50, convinced people to pay thousands of dollars in advance to secure a lease for a faked rental.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-15/qld-sunshine-coast-woman-…
# Australia, Rent, Landlords and agents.Value of new home loans hits record high for second month in a row
Euan Black The New Daily (No paywall)Lenders approved a record value of new home loans in November as first-home buyers took advantage of falling interest rates and government incentives.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2021/01/15/home-loan…
# Australia, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing market.Apartment prices are falling. Here’s how to ensure you don’t buy a dud
Matt Johnson The New Daily (No paywall)Apartment prices in Australia’s three largest capital cities either stagnated or declined through the pandemic year. But in dreaded news for apartment owners, there’s more pain on the horizon. High-rise CBD apartments – reeling from low migration, oversupply and bad publicity following Sydney’s Opal Tower saga – will continue to lose value until a vaccine is rolled out, SQM Research founder Louis Christopher said.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2021/01/15/apartment…
# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.