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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

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Russell Hall on the truth about covenants and housing affordability

Russell Hall Tue, 19/01/2021 - 12:00
The Fifth Estate (No paywall)

According to Brisbane-based architect Russell Hall, governments weaponise developers with the right to inflict buyers with the developer’s whims as conditions of purchase via covenants. He says this can make homes unaffordable and unsustainable.

https://www.thefifthestate.com.au/columns/spinifex/russell-hall-…

# Legal significance Australia, Housing affordability.

Government-approved housing plans leave tenants of 70 former miners’ homes facing eviction

Peter Lazenby Mon, 18/01/2021 - 12:00
(No paywall)

From United KIngdom, tenants of 70 former miners’ homes in Yorkshire face eviction and homelessness after the government approved a developer’s plans to demolish and replace the estate with luxury housing. (Morning Star)

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/government-approved-ho…

# International, Eviction, Homelessness, Housing market.

Banks pressuring customers to make unrealistic loan repayments as deferrals end

Rachel Clayton Wed, 20/01/2021 - 12:00
ABC (No paywall)

Borrowers are being pressured by banks to make "significant, bulk" payments as loan deferrals begin wrapping up. Last year, the economic impact of coronavirus forced banks to offer home owners mortgage payment 'holidays'. About 10 per cent of borrowers accepted and paused their payments. In July, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) announced banks could extend mortgage holidays to their customers by four months, to cover a maximum period of 10 months from the start of a repayment deferral, or until March 31, whichever came first. With that March deadline looming ... [read more].

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-20/mortgage-customers-pressu…

# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Home ownership, Housing market.

First home buyers flood back into market on low rates, rising house prices

Clancy Yeates and Jennifer Duke Wed, 20/01/2021 - 12:00
The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)

First home buyers are flooding back into the property market lured by ultra-low interest rates and government support, with two of the nation’s biggest mortgage brokers experiencing a surge in loan applications from young buyers. ... But while the lending surge is underway, analysts are predicting a modest rise in foreclosures as banks stop offering automatic home loan deferrals for customers thrown into financial stress by the pandemic.

https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/first-home-b…

# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Home ownership, Housing market.

Half of all renters fear for the future despite eviction ban extension

Kate Hughes Wed, 20/01/2021 - 12:00
(Paywall)

Half of all UK renters worry that their housing circumstances are now unstable, despite moves by the government to prevent evictions during lockdown. (Independent)

https://www.independent.co.uk/money/eviction-arrears-rent-housin…

# International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.

Beam Me Up Softlord

Sydney Smith Fri, 29/05/2020 - 12:00
(No paywall)

From the United Kingdom ... I live in a flatshare. Late one evening a few months back, we needed some emergency maintenance done – needing a fix sharpish, we called someone out and paid upfront. The next day we asked our landlord to reimburse us for the cost of this maintenance; he replied with a text saying that he was unwilling to cough up because the tone of our request (which had been business-like, at the outside) had really “hurt his feelings”. (The Social Review)

https://www.thesocialreview.co.uk/2020/05/29/beam-me-up-softlord/

# International, Repairs, Landlords and agents.

Responsible lending: Consumer groups warn against moves to make it easier to get a home loan

Kate Burke Tue, 19/01/2021 - 12:00
The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)

Overhauling responsible lending laws while the value of new home loans is at a record high will do more harm than good, consumer groups warn, creating a greater risk for borrowers and the economy while offering little reward. Plans to unwind responsible lending laws were announced by federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg last September, in a bid to increase the flow of credit to households and businesses as Australia’s economy looks to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.domain.com.au/news/responsible-lending-consumer-grou…

# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.

Gross Estate

Mandy Nolan Tue, 12/01/2021 - 12:00
(No paywall)

Last week in Byron a house that doesn’t yet exist hit the market for $60 million. A beach front holiday house. A tidy little weekender. The buyer will purchase a drawing of the house that is yet to materialise. It’s not even a home. It’s for holidays. A holiday from what? Makes me want to puke. We should all be appalled. This sort of wealth should not be celebrated. (Echo NetDaily)

https://www.echo.net.au/2021/01/mandy-nolans-soapbox-gross-estat…

# Australia, Housing market, Regional NSW.