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
Time to end the trauma of no grounds evictions
Zuzia Buszewicz Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)Eviction without reasonable grounds causes profound distress. That is my immediate conclusion after reading the responses over the last few days to our recent survey on no grounds evictions and renting in NSW. Renters who shared their experiences of eviction come from different areas and range in age and family unit composition. The majority have been severely emotionally impacted by being asked to leave their home for no reason. The results make it clear that having the rug of relative housing safely pulled from under your feet by a ‘no grounds’ eviction notice causes real distress, even leading to anxiety episodes and bouts of depression.
https://www.tenants.org.au/blog/time-to-end-trauma-no-grounds-ev…
# Must read, TUNSW in the media NSW, Eviction, Rent.A Tenant Is Served A No-Grounds Eviction Notice Every 18 Minutes In NSW
George Shiers Pedestrian (No paywall)A tenant in NSW is served a no-cause eviction every 18 minutes, putting renters at fear of losing their homes over simple requests. In the state, 30,000 households a year are given no cause evictions, with two out of three of those on fixed term agreements, according to Tenants Union NSW. Fixed term agreements are common in NSW, making up 58% of rentals, and those that receive a no-cause eviction are given 30 days to find a home. As a result, renters advocates say tenants are afraid to speak up with fears that even basic requests for maintenance or negotiation of a rent increase could lead to an eviction.
https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/a-tenant-is-served-a-no-grounds-e…
# Must read, TUNSW in the media NSW, Eviction.Sydney tenants say they were asked to vacate rental for requesting repairs
Taylor Troeth realestate.com.au (No paywall)These renters asked their property manager for almost a whole year to fix dangerous defects in their apartment – they say they were instead slapped with a rental increase and given 30 days to move out. Sydney couple Faizan and Emma moved into their apartment in Sydney’s northwest in December 2022 and claim asking for repairs was the primary reason they were asked to leave. It comes as rental experts continue to call for urgent reform of NSW’s tenant evictions policy, which they argue allow landlords to give unfair reasons to end leases. The couple said that when they moved in they noticed a tiny amount of damage on the floors, but nothing to cause concern.
https://www.realestate.com.au/news/sydney-tenants-say-they-were-…
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction, Repairs.Genuine affordable pledge made by Council
Paul Bibby Echo (No paywall)Byron Shire Council has publicly pledged that the first block of land it is acquiring under its Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme (AHCS) will be used for genuinely affordable housing, and remain so in perpetuity rather than adhering to the state government’s much-maligned affordability criteria. The promise came during last week’s Council meeting, as councillors discussed a planning proposal for a low and medium-density housing development in Rankin Drive, Bangalow.
https://www.echo.net.au/2024/03/genuine-affordable-pledge-made-b…
# NSW, Rent.Michael Pascoe: Wanted – a government game to try this housing fix
Michael Pascoe The New Daily (No paywall)Another day (or week or month or whatever), another series of disheartening and depressing housing stories and statistics, all pointing to there being absolutely no end in sight to the crisis and no solution contemplated by any government. Oh, there are Band-Aids of one sort or another, some of them helpful for some people, but no government can even pretend their policy bibs and bobs will make a significant difference.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2024/03/06/michael-pascoe…
# Hot topic NSW, .Airbnb launches crackdown on low-quality listings
David Swan The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Global holiday rental giant Airbnb has launched a crackdown on low-quality listings by removing more than 100,000 properties worldwide in a bid to clean up its platform and address what it says can sometimes be a below-par experience for guests. The company announced the measures on Tuesday alongside a new tool for Australian councils to track the number of Airbnb properties in local areas as state governments, including NSW, mull new levies on short-term stays to address an ongoing housing crisis.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/airbnb-launches-crackdown-on-l…
# Hot topic NSW, .Entire inner west mapped for six-storey apartments
Max Maddison and Michael McGowan The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)A sensitive NSW government analysis of its signature housing reform proposals says the entire inner west local government area would be zoned to allow six-storey apartments, in a dramatic reshaping of some of Sydney’s most affluent neighbourhoods. But the same 12-page briefing document also reveals there is little chance the government’s push for increased density will help it reach the ambitious 378,000 National Housing Accord targets agreed to by Premier Chris Minns last year.
https://amp-smh-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.smh.com.au/pol…
# Hot topic NSW, .Warby St, Campbelltown: ‘Serious defects’ had to be addressed in new public housing complex
Inasha Iftekhar Daily Telegraph (Paywall)‘Serious defects’ were identified in a newly completed $22 million social housing apartment complex in Sydney’s southwest just months before residents were meant to move in.
The six-storey apartment complex located at 44 Warby St in Campbelltown contains 41 apartment units and 57 underground carparking spaces. Providing much needed housing for close to 100 residents, ranging from young families to people at risk of homelessness.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/macarthur/warby-st-c…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Security and safety.