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
Housing minister will not rule out dumping $10 billion housing fund in favour of easier option
Stephanie Borys ABC (No paywall)A key election commitment to set up the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) is in doubt, after the housing minister would not outline the government's next steps.
The Greens and Coalition on Monday joined forces to delay a vote on the $10-billion fund until October.
However a vote in October is no longer certain, after Housing Minister Julie Collins would not say if the government would bring the legislation back for debate later this year.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-20/housing-minister-could-du…
# Hot topic, New policy announcement Australia, Campaigns and law reform, Federal Government, Planning and development.Australian PM pledges $1.4 billion for affordable homes
Reuters staff Reuters (No paywall)Australia's centre-left Labor government said on Saturday it would commit A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) to deliver thousands of new affordable homes nationwide, as the country grapples with soaring living costs.
Prime Minster Anthony Albanese said the funds - to be used by 30 June 2025 - would be delivered to state and territory governments within two weeks, with the aim of boosting public housing supply for Australians on waiting lists.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australian-pm-pledges…
# Hot topic, New policy announcement Australia, Public and community housing, Affordable housing, Federal Government.Victoria to consider rent caps and taxes on Airbnb owners to ease rental crisis
Benita Kolovos The Guardian (No paywall)The Victorian government will consider introducing rent caps and new taxes on owners of Airbnbs and vacant properties to help ease pressure on renters, under a deal struck with the Greens in exchange for their support for the state budget.
Before the last sitting of state parliament before the winter break, the Greens will announce their support for the budget, which includes tax increases for big business, property investors and private schools to pay off the state’s Covid-19 borrowings.
In exchange, a taskforce led by deputy premier Jacinta Allan, which is currently examining measures to boost housing supply, will consider renter safeguards the Greens have been campaigning for.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/20/victoria-…
# Hot topic, New policy announcement Australia, Rent, Campaigns and law reform, State Government.Will a national rent freeze fix Australia’s housing crisis? Depends on who you listen to
Cameron Murray The Guardian (No paywall)In the face of rapidly rising rents in Australia’s capitals, the Greens are calling for the federal government to work with states on a national rent freeze to protect tenants from the “bill shock” of sudden rental increase of 20%, 30%, or more when they renew their lease.
Berlin froze rents in 2019 on apartments built before 2014. It saved that city’s renters billions before being ruled unconstitutional in 2021. Perverse supply outcomes that were promised failed to materialise, with Berlin seeing much faster new housing development than the 13 next-largest German cities in the two years of the policy.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/20/will-a-nat…
# Must read, Hot topic Australia, Rent, Campaigns and law reform, Housing affordability.Greens renew push for rent freeze as housing bodies say ‘time is of the essence’ to pass Labor bill
Amy Remeikis The Guardian (No paywall)The Greens will continue to push for a national freeze on rents and interest rate rises, declaring there is more the Albanese government can do to address Australia’s housing cost crisis.
Their call comes as the country’s peak housing bodies call for the debate deadlock to be broken and for Labor’s housing Australia future fund to be passed this week.
Senator Nick McKim will introduce a private member’s bill in the Senate on Monday which seeks to allow the commonwealth work with states and territories in a similar way to the energy market intervention and freeze rent increases for two years, cap increases thereafter and ban no-grounds evictions.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/19/greens-re…
# Hot topic, New policy announcement Australia, Rent, Campaigns and law reform, Federal Government.Airbnb hosts revert to long-term rentals as rising costs of living hits bookings
Dominic Cansdale and Gemma Sapwell ABC (No paywall)Property owners are leaving the short-term accommodation market like Airbnb in favour of long-term renting as the rising cost of living dampens appetites for holidays on the Gold Coast, according to a property management firm.
Australian Bureau of Statistics census data suggests one-in-10 properties on the Gold Coast are empty, while about 10 per cent of the city's population are either homeless or living in unaffordable housing.
There are more than 11,000 registered Airbnb properties on the Gold Coast according to council data.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-19/airbnb-hosts-revert-back-…
# Hot topic Australia, Housing market, Local Government, Short-term holiday letting.Hobart City Council doubles rates for short-stay properties in 8-3 vote
Clancy Balen ABC (No paywall)In short: The Hobart City Council has voted to double rates for owners of short-stay accommodation such as Airbnb in a bid to "open up" the city's housing market.
What's next?: Airbnb says the decision is 'disappointing' and risks putting a handbrake on tourism.
Hobart City Council has voted to adopt a new rates system that doubles the amount charged for short-stay accommodation properties, in a bid to address the city's housing shortage.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-20/tas-hobart-council-double…
# Hot topic Australia, Housing affordability, Local Government, Short-term holiday letting.Penguin caravan park residents fear for future as conversion to beach retreat wins council support
Bec Pridham ABC (No paywall)In short: Caravan park residents in Tasmania's north-west are worried about their future as a council progresses an application to convert it into a beachside retreat.
What's next?: The Tenants' Union of Tasmania says vulnerable residents in the midst of a rental crisis need better protections.
Dakoda French has been living in a bus at a caravan park with her partner and two dogs for the past year.
She has searched high and low for other accommodation across Tasmania's north-west, but it has been fruitless.
"It's the only place I have to go," Ms French said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-20/penguin-caravan-park-conv…
# Hot topic Australia, Land lease communities, Local Government, Planning and development.