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
Property prices in some cities rise while rents stagnate or fall: Domain data
Melissa Heagney and Rachel Wells Domain (Paywall)Property prices are rising while rents track sideways or fall, with experts warning buyers should be careful about purchasing in neighbourhoods on “shaky ground”.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/property-prices-in-some-cities-ri…
# Australia, Rent, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing market.Government releases additional 1800 spots for existing property in First-Home Loan Deposit Scheme
Tawar Razaghi Domain (Paywall)An extra 1800 first-home buyers will be able to break into the property market sooner, after the government announced any unused spots from the first round of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme would be reissued.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/additional-1800-spots-available-i…
# Australia, Federal Government, Home ownership.RBA boss Philip Lowe says household spending holds the key to post-COVID economic recovery
Michael Janda ABC (No paywall)[The RBA governor] ... observed that the past year's run up to record levels should further encourage homeowners to open their wallets ... Higher housing prices can also encourage additional residential construction. That's assuming things don't get out of hand.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-03/rba-governor-philip-lowe-…
# Australia, Housing market.The silent factor that’s putting upwards pressure on Australian house prices
Matt Johnson The New Daily (No paywall)It’s hard to believe, but Australian house prices have broken new ground despite the country’s first recession in 30 years. ... the momentum in the property market has largely been driven by rock-bottom interest rates, generous government grants, and buoyant consumer sentiment.
But analysts say a severe shortage of homes is also putting upward pressure on prices.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2021/02/01/supply-de…
# Australia, Housing affordability, Housing market.‘It’s a seller’s market’: Australian house prices push into record territory in January
Matt Johnson The New Daily (No paywall)Australians’ post-lockdown housing obsession appears to show no signs of slowing, with house prices pushing past 2017’s peak to hit a new record high in January. CoreLogic figures revealed national property prices are now 1 per cent above the average value before the pandemic hit, and 0.7 per cent above the previous record set in September 2017.
The biggest price rises across major cities were seen in smaller capitals including Darwin (2.3 per cent), Hobart and Perth (1.6 per cent), and Canberra (1.2 per cent). Sydney and Melbourne prices edged up 0.4 per cent through the month.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2021/02/01/australia…
# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.Historic 'Oaklands' home in Warriewood at risk of demolition after vandals move in
Paige Cockburn ABC (No paywall)A historic house in Sydney's north that was supposed to be protected by developers could now be demolished, after being targeted by vandals and squatters.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-03/sydney-historic-house-may…
# NSW, Heritage listings.House-sitting, couch surfing keeping 'almost homeless' older woman off the streets
Edwina Seselja and Cathie Schnitzerling ABC (No paywall)Brisbane mother of two Zoe has not had stable housing for more than two years but she is not what you might imagine when you think of someone experiencing homelessness. "I live where I can," the 58-year-old told ABC Radio Brisbane. "I keep a roof over my head by either house-sitting or couch surfing and staying with friends." When those options were not available, Zoe turned to a women's homeless shelter where she lived for three months. At another time, her health landed her in hospital. "I've been house-sitting permanently for almost two years now," she said. On census night in 2016, there were an estimated 6,866 women over 50 who were homeless ...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-31/older-women-avoid-homeles…
# Australia, Homelessness, Women.Landlords publishing 'bad tenants' lists online could be breaking the law
Cecile Meier (No paywall)From New Zealand ... Landlords are compiling lists of so-called “bad tenants” on websites and social media – a move that could get them into trouble for defamation and breach of privacy. ... Tenants checks are advertised on the site for $10 a piece. Prospective members are encouraged to add names to the list to gain a discount on a gold membership. A Facebook group called Bad Tenants New Zealand (landlords only) also has a list of almost 200 “bad tenants”, featuring full names and locations and visible to all 3200 members. ... Christchurch senior barrister Kathryn Dalziel, an experienced privacy lawyer, said those behind the pages were in breach of the Privacy Act. They were soliciting information about tenants from former or current landlords in “an unfair way with no right of recourse”, and without any transparency for tenants, she said.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/renting/124047304/landl…
# Hot topic, Legal significance International, Tenant databases.