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
At least half a million renters in COVID-19 arrears, charities say
Dominic Brady Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kiongdom ... Chancellor Rishi Sunak must provide a financial package in the Spring Budget to help private renters impacted by the pandemic, a coalition of charities and membership groups has said. The groups warned that at least half a million renters are in arrears due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a number facing the prospect of homelessness without state support.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/at-least-half-a-millio…
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Homelessness.Minister accuses City of Sydney of holding up social housing
Alexandra Smith The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The NSW government says a key plank of its COVID-19 economic response is being delayed because the City of Sydney is dragging its heels in approving critical social housing developments. ... A government briefing note prepared for Ms Pavey’s office says there are more than 1000 social housing dwellings awaiting approval from the council, including Waterloo South (914), Elizabeth Street in Redfern (64) and Cowper Street, Glebe (35).
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/minister-accuses-city-of-syd…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, Estate renewal, Housing affordability, State Government.‘The Value of Sustainable Urbanization’ for Australian cities
AHURI Brief AHURI (No paywall)The UN-Habitat program released the ‘World Cities Report 2020 - The Value of Sustainable Urbanization’ in early November 2020. The stated aim of the UN-Habitat is ‘to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities’ and to promote ‘urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty.’ Read on ...
https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/ahuri-briefs/the-value-of-sust…
# Australia, Affordable housing, International, Planning and development.Rent debt crisis 'could lead to homelessness'
Simon Read BBC (No paywall)Half a million renters could lose their home without financial help, debt charities, lenders and landlords have warned. These renters are under pressure from debt they've built up since the pandemic.
# International, Eviction, Coronavirus COVID-19.Lendlease strikes $460m deal with Aware Super for retirement living
Carolyn Cummins The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Lendlease has extended its partnership with the country’s largest super fund in a deal to sell a 25 per cent stake in the retirement living business, estimated to be worth about $460 million. Aware Super will now have a stake in 75 retirement villages that are home to more than 16,000 residents across the country.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/lendlease-strikes-460m…
# Australia, Housing market, International, Older people.Ikea-owned modular builder in talks with multiple councils over deals
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... The modular housing firm owned by Swedish furniture giant Ikea is in talks with several councils over potential developments.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/home/ikea-owned-modular-bui…
# International, Public and community housing, Home ownership, Housing market.Why Sydneysiders didn’t abandon living in the city during the pandemic
Caitlin Fitzsimmons The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)For many Sydneysiders, the COVID-19 pandemic has made them more committed than ever to their home town. First-home buyers and families upgrading to bigger digs have boosted home lending and sent auction clearance rates to a 20-year high across the city, in a sign Sydneysiders are doubling down on city or suburban life.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/why-sydneysiders-didn-t-aban…
# NSW, Coronavirus COVID-19, Home ownership, Housing market.Labor launches new campaign highlighting aged care horror stories
James Massola The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Australia’s “fundamentally broken” aged care system - and its impact on grandparents, parents and children - will be highlighted in a new campaign federal Labor will launch on Monday. The campaign consists of a series of short videos and amounts to a pre-emptive strike against the Morrison government on the eve of the Aged Care Royal Commission’s final report.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-launches-new-campa…
# Hot topic Australia, Federal Government, Older people.