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
Tenancy Tribunal issues first 'pet' ruling, approves Labrador puppy in upstairs flat
Radio NZ (No paywall)A Christchurch landlord, who tried to stop tenants from adopting a golden labrador in a unit within a three-level building, has been overruled by the Tenancy Tribunal in its first ruling on "pet consent" rules. Tenancy Tribunal principal adjudicator Brett Carter issued the ruling on 1 May, suppressing the names of those involved. Tenancy rules changed on 1 December, preventing landlords from unreasonably withholding consent for pets, but allowing them to charge a pet bond.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/595277/tenancy-tribunal-issues-fi…
# Hot topic International, Pets.It was Britain’s most expensive house. Why is its only resident a homeless man who lives on the porch?
Sam Wollaston The Guardian (No paywall)When it last changed hands, in 2020, 2-8A Rutland Gate was Britain’s most expensive house, selling for £210m. The word “house” hardly does it justice; palace is probably more accurate. It is in Knightsbridge, one of the most glamorous parts of London, and has 45 rooms, four lifts, an indoor pool and 116 windows, 68 of which overlook Hyde Park. But no one is enjoying those views. This palace has been empty for years.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/10/homeless-ma…
# Hot topic International, .Lawsuit Alleges Corporate Landlord’s Neglect Is Endangering Disabled Tenants And Undermining Access To Rent-Controlled Housing
Eviction Defense (No paywall)San Francisco, CA — The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) and the Eviction Defense Collaborative (EDC) have filed a lawsuit on behalf of three mobility disabled tenants who have been trapped for years in inaccessible conditions at a rent-controlled apartment building in San Francisco, after the building’s management company refused to fix the building’s sole elevator when it stopped working. The lawsuit alleges that Structure Properties, which took over management of the building several years ago, has allowed the property to deteriorate and has failed to maintain critical accessibility features relied upon by disabled and older tenants.
https://evictiondefense.org/lawsuit-alleges-corporate-landlords-…
# International, Discrimination.Auckland isn’t a simple story of blanket upzoning
Nicole Bennetts The Fifth Estate (No paywall)Auckland is increasingly invoked as the definitive case for blanket upzoning in Australia. Whenever economists or supply-side commentators argue for broadscale upzoning across cities to solve the housing crisis, Auckland is invariably presented as the proof point. “Upzone everywhere, sweep away planning controls, and the market will deliver the housing supply we need”. The story is simple, persuasive and increasingly influential. It is also a remarkably selective reading of what really happened in Auckland.
https://thefifthestate.com.au/columns/spinifex/auckland-isnt-a-s…
# International, .Social housing lists ‘would take 119 years to clear at current building rate’
Jessica Murray The Guardian (No paywall)It would take more than a century to clear the social housing waiting lists in England at the government’s current speed of delivering new social homes, research by Shelter has shown. The housing charity found that more than 1.3 million households are on a waiting list for a social home, but only 12,198 were built by councils, housing associations or private developers across England last year.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jun/07/social-housing-1…
# International, Public and community housing.Vulnerable families illegally ‘dumped’ hundreds of miles away by London councils
Josh Halliday and Priya Bharadia The Guardian (No paywall)Vulnerable families including women fleeing abuse are being illegally “dumped” hundreds of miles away by London councils in a practice “ripping at the social fabric” of deprived towns, a Guardian investigation has found. Against the backdrop of a deepening housing crisis, the number of homeless people forced out of London has doubled in the past two years. Scores of families with children were moved to cheap, sparsely furnished properties in some of the poorest parts of England including Bolton, Blackpool and Hartlepool, according to freedom of information requests. Charities described the policy as “inhumane” and accused councils of targeting vulnerable refugees who speak little English and have little ability to understand or challenge the move. If they refuse, they are in effect forced on to the streets.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jun/07/vulnerable-famil…
# International, .I thought I'd got my dream flat - so did 23 others
Nicky Ford BBC (No paywall)Last summer, 20-year-old Mide Awosika thought she had secured her dream flat ahead of starting a new term at Queen Mary University in London. She and two flatmates together paid a £12,000 deposit to rent a four-bedroom property in Poplar, east London. But when they arrived on moving day, there were no keys – and they found nine other people also trying to move into the same flat. The property had been advertised on major rental websites Zoopla and OpenRent. After a viewing in July, Awosika said the letting agent, who identified himself as Derrick Fringe, told them there was stiff competition and they needed to pay immediately to secure it. She said they handed over three months' rent upfront, plus holding and security deposits.
# Hot topic International, Starting a tenancy.'I thought I'd got my dream flat' - so did 23 others
BBC (No paywall)Last summer, 20-year-old Mide Awosika thought she had secured her dream flat ahead of starting a new term at Queen Mary University in London.
# Video International, .