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
'It's a crisis' : Indigenous housing advocates argue for government intervention to alleviate Aboriginal homelessness
Dechlan Brennan National Indigenous Times (No paywall)Indigenous homelessness and a lack of adequate housing supply have been pushed to the forefront by Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV), with legislative changes, as well as more empty land being freed up for First Peoples some of the suggestions put forward in a recent submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
https://nit.com.au/19-01-2024/9373/its-a-crisis-indigenous-housi…
# Must read Australia, Aboriginal renters, Discrimination, Public and community housing, Rent.Landlord wins thousands in compensation after tenants 'abandoned' property over cockroaches
By Emily Power Domain (No paywall)A pair of Sydney tenants have been forced to pay their landlords $3000 for “abandoning” a rental property they found to have cockroaches. They were required to pay the sum for breaking the lease after only four days and ended up in the Civil and Administrative Tribunal of New South Wales. The renters were seeking the return of their $3000 bond and a holding deposit of $1000 they paid to secure the property, and the two landlords were after compensation.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/landlord-wins-thousands-in-compen…
# NSW, Bond, Repairs, Security and safety, Starting a tenancy, Tribunal NCAT, You want to leave.Sydney single mother pressured by landlord to leave rental just nine months into lease
Cait Kelly The Guardian (No paywall)A Sydney landlord put pressure on a single mother to leave her rental home after just nine months, eventually relisting the property at $300 more a week when the tenant’s lease expired. Fiona*, who has two children, last year rented a two-bedroom apartment in Arncliffe for $690 a week through agency Century 21.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/14/sydney-re…
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction, Rent.Rent rebels: the tenants who fought for their rights and won
Sarah Marsh The Guardian (No paywall)The UK is turning into a country of renters – with one in five now paying a landlord monthly. Not every rental property is up to scratch, however. This week, the Guardian’s Living Hell series has highlighted the issue of unstable and unsafe housing and landlords who exploit loopholes in the system. There may not be many ways to improve poor living conditions but some tenants have taken on their landlords – and won.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/nov/18/rent-rebels-the-te…
# International, Rent, Tribunal NCAT.Australians won’t see more public housing anytime soon. Here’s why:
Ethan Gilbert Crikey (No paywall)To save public housing, it's vital to sort out the fiscal imbalance between the federal government and the states. Over the past decade in Australia, how housing for those in need is delivered and maintained has radically shifted. Public housing, which is managed and owned by state and territory governments, is on its way out. Community housing, which is managed (and often owned) by private not-for-profit organisations, is on its way in.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2024/01/16/australian-public-housing-f…
# Hot topic Australia, Public and community housing.Housing ombudsman in England calls to re-establish link between housing and health
Robert Booth The Guardian (No paywall)The housing ombudsman in England is calling for an independent royal commission “to reimagine the future of social housing” and re-establish the link between housing and health. Richard Blakeway, who handles thousands of tenants’ complaints about mistreatment, disrepair, discrimination and squalor, said that parts of the social housing sector had reached breaking point, with residents desperate and neglected.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/jan/22/richard-blakeway…
# Hot topic International, Public and community housing.When Percy saw a suburban house sitting empty, he moved himself in. Meet Australia's squatters
Michelle Elias SBS (No paywall)In a four-bedroom house, in one of Brisbane's wealthiest areas, I shed my shoes at the door of Percy's* place. He welcomes me in and shows me around. "This is the bedroom ... the walk-in wardrobe ... the guest room," he rattles off. "I had someone staying here the last couple of weeks." On the same street, a $1.75 million house - a newer home - sold around the same time he moved in. But Percy pays nothing. He doesn't own the place. He's not renting or house-sitting either. He has been squatting in someone else's house for seven months.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/article/when-percy-saw-a-su…
# Hot topic Australia, Privacy and access, Rent.Ben was evicted after six years and never told why. It's still allowed in many parts of Australia.
Jennifer Luu SBS (No paywall)In September, Ben Fitzhardinge sent an email to his real estate agency, saying he had just spoken to Western Australia's consumer watchdog, Consumer Protection. He'd been seeking advice about his rights as a tenant after a series of inspections.
Six days after the email, he received an eviction notice.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/article/ben-was-evicted-aft…
# TUNSW in the media Australia, Eviction, Tribunal NCAT.