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
In Cannes, I saw English councils pander to gilet-wearing property developers – at the cost of their residents
Phineas Harper The Guardian (No paywall)Welcome to Mipim, the world’s largest real estate fair, which returned to Cannes this month. Picture an ocean of property developers in blue suits and puffy gilets thronging the French beachfront. Inside the convention centre, instead of salespeople fronting the booths, you’ll find politicians talking up their region’s heritage, sport teams, music scenes, universities and waterfronts, with glossy prospectuses to tempt global investors.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/26/cannes-eng…
# Must read International, Rent.Government planning new law to target sex-for-rent landlords
John Kierans Irish Mirror (No paywall)The Government has confirmed it is looking to introduce a new law banning sex-for-rent practices. The move comes after numerous complaints to gardai and female protection advocacy groups from terrified tenants. Sinister landlords have allegedly demanded sex to renew leases, while others have asked for sexual favours instead of a rent rise. Both gardai and politicians say the practice is happening more regularly nationwide. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has revealed the Government will be making it a criminal offense to offer or advertise for sex in lieu of rent. He said: “Combating the scourge of domestic, sexual and gender based violence will be a key focus for me as minister.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/government-planning-n…
# Must read International, Rent, Starting a tenancy.No such thing as good news for Ireland’s housing supply
Cantillon Irish Times (No paywall)Whether the metric be output or availability or cost – there’s just no such thing as good news in the lugubrious world of Ireland’s housing crisis. Each report, each set of numbers, each rowdy Dáil debate seems another slice in this bricks-and-mortar death by a thousand cuts. No matter how much they build, the positive PR efforts of a Government intent on fixing the problem just keep on crumbling down around them.
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/03/25/no-such-thing-as-…
# International, .Spanish rental crisis worsens with nationwide tenant strikes on the cards
Murcia Today (No paywall)Getting a foot on the property ladder has become a near-impossible dream for many people living in Spain, particularly the younger generation. With affordable housing non-existence and wage increases completely halted, renting is now the only option for most. But landlords are well aware of the supply problem, and rents have skyrocketed to never-before-seen levels.
https://murciatoday.com/spanish_rental_crisis_worsens_with_natio…
# Hot topic International, .Fewer renters believe they’ll own homes as economic struggles and housing challenges persist
KMTV (No paywall)The American Dream is becoming less obtainable for many people. A new study shows that renters are losing hope of owning their own homes.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&ur…
# Video International, Rent.Jeff lived with his mates. Then a developer bought his home, and he has no-one left
Sue Williams Domain (No paywall)What’s harder than saying a final goodbye to your family? Jeff Elliott thinks he knows: it’s not having the chance to shake hands that one last time, share a warm hug and wish them all the luck in the world as you say a tearful farewell. As one of the last four men left standing in two boarding houses in Paddington, the site of a lost battle to stop a developer evicting all 32 men to convert the building into luxury housing, he finds it hard to believe his mates have well and truly gone. “They were family to me,” said Elliott, 59, who’s lived in one of the tiny studios of the building on Selwyn Street for 20 years. “I’ve now got nothing and no one left.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/jeff-lived-with-his-mates-then-a-…
# Must read NSW, Boarders and lodgers.What did we learn about Rent Bidding?
Leo Patterson Ross Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)Rent bidding refers to a situation where applicants, under pressure to compete against each other for a property in a tight market, make an offer to pay rent above the advertised price in order to secure a listed property. They can be encouraged to do so by landlords or their agents during the application process. Alternatively, a landlord or agent may attempt to initiate a rent auction or bidding process by advertising a rental property without a clear fixed price - instead providing a range of rents or lists as ‘rent price available on application' or 'by negotiation'.
https://www.tenants.org.au/blog/what-did-we-learn-about-rent-bid…
# Must read, Research alert NSW, Rent.New group opposes Kincumber development plan
Coast Community News (No paywall)A new community campaign to save wetlands at Kincumber has seen more than 500 people register to join via Facebook in just a few days. The Save Kincumber Wetlands campaign and Facebook page was established to protest the proposed lease of bushland beside Carrack Rd to Woolworths. Owner of the land, the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC), announced on its Facebook page last month that it intended to proceed with the project, which was listed as a one-to-five year priority in its Development Delivery Plan of 2022.
https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2025/03/new…
# Hot topic NSW, .