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
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.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.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.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.Northern Ireland eviction protections extended until end of September
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)The Northern Ireland Executive has announced it is extending the legislation put in place to protect private renters from eviction until 30 September. ... Communities minister Deirdre Hargey announced an extension to the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act, which requires landlords to give tenants 12 weeks’ notice before seeking a court order.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/northern-ireland-evict…
# Must read International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.Stokes vows to break deadlock over major Waterloo housing revamp
Matt O'Sullivan and Megan Gorrey The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes is warning he will intervene within weeks if a stand-off between the City of Sydney and the state’s social housing agency over a revamped public housing estate is not resolved urgently. Mr Stokes said the proposal to redevelop the Waterloo public housing estate in inner Sydney was in limbo because of the disagreement between the council and the NSW Land and Housing Corporation over the scale of the development and funding for infrastructure.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/stokes-vows-to-break-deadloc…
# Hot topic NSW, Public and community housing, Estate renewal, Planning and development, State Government.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.Mould infestations at Sydney social housing block leaves residents living in fear
Alison Xiao ABC (No paywall)Melissa Smith ended up in hospital after a mould infection took hold of her social housing unit in south-east Sydney. Black mould began to grow on the carpet of Ms Smith's apartment in Chifley in 2019 and it gradually spread to the ceiling and windows. Many of the 25-year-old's belongings have been ruined by the mould but the impacts on her health are more serious.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-23/mould-infestation-at-sydn…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Repairs, Health, Mould.