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
Tenancy laws are changing in NSW
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)After many years of campaigning, the changes in the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 represent a significant improvement for NSW renters. The Act ends 'no grounds' evictions, makes it a little easier to have pets in your home, caps rent increases at once yearly for most agreements, and improves rental payment rules. However, the Act passing does not mean that all the changes have come into effect. The changes that have already come into effect are: a cap on rent increases to once in a 12 month period (for most agreements); a ban on asking you to pay for a background check when applying for a rental property; the NSW Rental Commissioner will sit on the Rental Bond Board; toilets must be dual flush to meet water efficiency standards.
# Must read, Legal significance NSW, Eviction, Rent.Pet-owning renters won the battle, but might landlords win the war?
Jimmy Thomson The Sydney Morning Herald (No paywall)Fears that apartment blocks could be overrun by animals were given another (probably irrational) tweak this week with the announcement that the NSW government is rolling out new laws that prevent landlords from imposing blanket bans on pets. Given that more than 50 per cent of unit block residents are renters, and owners corporations (bodies corporate) long ago lost their ability to impose unreasonable restrictions on companion animals, we can expect to see a few more fur-babies in the hallways and lifts of apartment blocks.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/pet-owning-renters-won-the-b…
# Hot topic NSW, Rent.Plans underway for pod evictions
Hans Lovejoy Echo (No paywall)The Bayside pods at Brunswick Heads are among four North Coast temporary housing villages that will close on June 27. Pod managers NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA), said in a statement that Kingscliff, Evans Head, and Pottsville pod villages will also close. In the aftermath of the 2022 floods, RA established 11 temporary housing villages across the Northern Rivers on council and private land. NSW Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin told The Echo, ‘My promise to [those impacted] is that we’ve got RA and Homes NSW working on a plan to get everyone the stable, long-term housing that they need and deserve.’
https://www.echo.net.au/2025/04/plans-underway-for-pod-evictions/
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction, Rent.Soaring rents slow down as tenants pushed to the brink
Jacob Shteyman Lismore City News (No paywall)Rental price growth may be its slowest in years but low vacancies and lack of new supply mean landlords retain the upper hand. Rents remain at record highs in every capital city despite the slowdown in price growth, Domain has found in its March-quarter rent report on Thursday. Combined capital-city house rents rose 3.2 per cent over the year, the weakest annual rate in four years. Unit rents grew at a slightly higher rate, coming off a lower base yet still recording their lowest March-quarter increase in four years.
https://www.lismorecitynews.com.au/story/8933026/soaring-rents-s…
# Hot topic NSW, Rent.Byron Bay rents rise 10% in a year
Monica Adair NBN News (No paywall)A new Domain report has revealed Byron Shire rental prices have risen significantly in the past year. It comes as homelessness services are seeing increased demand – and election candidates are now calling for action.
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2025/04/04/byron-bay-rents-rise-10-in…
# Video NSW, Rent.Aboriginal creative and cultural space in heart of Redfern secured after prologued Council consideration
Jarred Cross National Indigenous Times (No paywall)After deferred discussion, Aboriginal creative and cultural use will be prioritised in the future use of a large and much-loved hub in Redfern. Last week, City of Sydney councillors carried a motion on 107 Redfern Street unanimously, a site previously managed by social enterprise '107 Projects' as an arts hub and regular exhibition space. Following proposed amendments to the site's planned future as a broader creative space not prioritising the local Indigenous community in February, independent Councillor and Wiradjuri woman Yvonne Weldon's motion putting Aboriginal interests front and centre was approved on March 17. With it, City of Sydney have committed to "prioritise local Aboriginal creative and cultural use of 107 Redfern Street, while retaining broader community use".
https://nit.com.au/24-03-2025/16987/aboriginal-creative-and-cult…
# Hot topic NSW, .Better Deal for Renters – report card
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)
As campaigning begins in the lead up to the Federal election on the 3rd May 2025 the National Association of Renters’ Organisations (NARO) is calling for urgent, decisive action to give renters a fair go across all States and Territories. It's vital that renters who make up 30% of all Australian households are taken seriously by our next Federal Government. 18 months on since the National Cabinet announced the Better Deal for Renters with the goal of harmonising and strengthening renters rights there is still significant work required to enhance the renting experience of Australians. NARO’s report card assessing progress of all States and Territories in implementing the Better Deal for Renters is attached.
https://www.tenants.org.au/reports/better-deal-renters-report-ca…
# Must read, Research alert Australia, Rent.The rent crisis behind Australia’s two-faced cities
Inga Ting, Katia Shatoba, Alex Palmer and Thomas Brettel ABC (No paywall)The bitter irony of sprucing up mansions when you can barely afford a roof over your own head isn’t lost on Perth house painter Glen Pendlebury. Public transport isn’t an option when you’ve got tools and hand rollers and 10-litre cans of paint. So Glen drives an hour, sometimes an hour-and-a-half, to job sites in neighbourhoods he can’t afford to live in. He’s then slapped with parking fines “because there’s no parking in Perth, either”, he says.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-06/the-rent-crisis-behind-au…
# Must read, Research alert Australia, Rent.