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
Mother-son landlord duo Nick Hoogwerf and Donna Miers under investigation by MBIE
Brianna McIlraith NZ Herald (No paywall)A mother-and-son landlord pair with a history of tenant complaints and conduct described as “nefarious” are under investigation. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has been investigating the alleged poor landlord practices of Nick Hoogwerf and Donna Miers for about a year, after further claims they have provided sub-standard rentals and failed to lodge bonds. Separately, Hoogwerf, who was previously struck off as a real estate agent, has been the subject of fresh complaints to the Tenancy Tribunal from aggrieved tenants.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mother-son-landlord-duo-nick-hoogw…
# International, .Students may head home for six months as rental law allows early exit
Louise Eccles The Times (No paywall)University students could spend almost six months back at home between April and September because new housing laws will allow them to leave their accommodation at Easter. At present, students pay thousands of pounds in rent when they no longer need to be close to campus because their contracts are fixed for 12 months, typically starting in July.
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/students-housing-r…
# International, .Landlord’s ‘unreasonable’ pet request sparks rental confusion
Suki Reid Domain (No paywall)The rules around pets in rentals have changed to be more accessible, but many tenants are still navigating a system that feels unclear. One NSW renter’s experience is a reminder of how easily things can get complicated. The tenant applied to keep a dog, only to be told approval would come with a catch. Following their property manager’s advice to include details, the renter submitted their request and described their “ideal” pet as a small, mature dog. They then waited for a response. When the approval came through it came with a strict condition – the dog had to match the description. With suitable older dogs proving hard to find locally, the tenant began to wonder if they were actually locked into that original description or if there was room to change course and adopt a puppy instead.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/landlords-unreasonable-pet-reques…
# Must read, TUNSW in the media NSW, Pets.‘Do more’: Clover points finger at state-owned land for housing fix
David Barwell The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The City of Sydney has identified more than 30 state-owned sites, including prime harbourfront hotels, that could be transformed into thousands of new homes, as Lord Mayor Clover Moore calls on the NSW government to “do more” to solve the state’s housing crisis. In a bold intervention, the council is pushing for planning rules to be relaxed at Darling Harbour to allow the redevelopment of the Novotel and Ibis hotel sites into high-density apartments. The move shifts pressure directly onto the Minns government, by challenging it to unlock its own land for housing rather than simply mandating targets for local councils.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/do-more-clover-points-finger…
# NSW, .Non-profit aged care hit with 6,000 per cent rent hike by NSW Crown Lands
Declan Bowring ABC (No paywall)A not-for-profit aged care home says it's been hit by a "staggering" 6,324 per cent increase in its crown land rent. Allambie Heights Village on Sydney's Northern Beaches says it had rent increases on three of the parcels of land it leases, including 465 per cent, 5,278 per cent and 6,234 per cent. The hikes come as NSW Crown Lands has been raising rents on lessees around the state to increase the return for the people of NSW to be reinvested back into community land. The village that runs aged care and retirement living received the increases in 2023 and has been absorbing the cost for the past two years.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-01/aged-care-hit-with-five-f…
# Must read NSW, .NSW Government agrees to further consultation on Crown Land law
Francisco Silva Law Society Journal (No paywall)Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper has confirmed consideration of the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 (NSW), that was planned to go before Parliament on Tuesday 24 March, has been deferred to allow for the Government to conduct further consultation. At issue is a provision in the Bill that threatened land rights claims under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) (ALRA). The Law Society of NSW and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council had earlier stated the Bill lacked consultation. The Government has now agreed to further engagement with stakeholders, including the Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
https://lsj.com.au/articles/nsw-government-agrees-to-further-con…
# NSW, .'Like a pizza oven': NSW renters trapped in dangerously hot homes
Emily McPherson 9 News (No paywall)Many renters in New South Wales were left to swelter in dangerously hot homes this past summer, with new data showing indoor temperatures in some rental properties reached extreme temperatures of up to 40°C. Rental advocacy group Better Renting tracked 50 rental homes across the state between December 2025 and March 2026. While the World Health Organisation considers indoor temperatures above 25°C to pose an overheating risk, many NSW study participants spent an average of 12 hours per day between 25°C and 30°C.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/like-a-pizza-oven-nsw-renters-…
# NSW, .Houseboat living illegal in NSW but will housing crisis drive change to laws?
Cat Woods Law Society Journal (No paywall)In May 2024, the ABC reported on retirees seeking cheap and comfortable homes on the water – unburdened by rates, water or electricity bills. The “blanket ban” in NSW was an anomaly, as one retiree, Dr Bill Phillips put it. Phillips was living, at that time, in a small inlet off the Murray River – Bruce’s Bend Marina – that fell into Victorian waters. In response to ABC inquiries, a New South Wales Transport spokesperson claimed that “living in houseboats was not allowed because of safety risks, pollution concerns and increased noise and anti-social behaviour”. The rental vacancy in Mildura at that time was less than 1 per cent of homes.
https://lsj.com.au/articles/houseboat-living-illegal-in-nsw-but-…
# NSW, .