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
How the Brisbane Olympics could cause a high jump for property prices
Sarah Webb Domain (No paywall)The Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics could fuel the biggest real estate renaissance in the city’s history, with industry experts predicting a gilded decade of property price growth that will push the median house price past the million-dollar mark and see key infrastructure suburbs soar.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/how-the-brisbane-olympics-c…
# Australia, Housing market.Technology has made buildings less climate-friendly: but we can look back in time for solutions
Bashar Al Shawa The Conversation (No paywall)It’s been claimed that technology is the answer to the climate crisis. By eventually separating economic growth from its effects on the environment through improving energy efficiency, the argument runs, better technology promises to prevent catastrophic global warming. But among the many things that this argument fails to consider is the reality that new technology has often encouraged extravagant forms of consumption: from private cars and planes to kitchens full of appliances and air conditioning in countries with mild climates. Technology has also caused what’s called the “rebound effect”: where improving energy efficiency leads to cheaper energy and therefore higher rates of energy consumption. For example, buying a more fuel-efficient car will reduce your average fuel cost per trip and thus is likely to lead to more trips, taking away at least some of your anticipated energy savings.
A similar trend appears in architecture ... [Read on]
https://theconversation.com/technology-has-made-buildings-less-c…
# International, Utilities water energy internet, Climate change, Housing market.Cities are made from more than buildings and roads. They are also made by ambiences – how a city makes you feel
Jordan Lacey The Conversation (No paywall)How does a city feel? Energetic, unnerving, invigorating, relaxing? This is a key question often asked by designers who consider the ambience of a city. Typically, when we think of a city we jump straight to thinking about its buildings, roads, shops and parklands: the physical things we are surrounded by. But what about all those invisible things in between?
https://theconversation.com/cities-are-made-from-more-than-build…
# Australia, Planning and development.Scottish regulator to appoint 12 tenant advisors
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)The Scottish Housing Regulator is recruiting 12 volunteer tenant advisors to bring a tenant perspective to its scrutiny of landlords’ services. Applications are currently being accepted from tenants of councils and registered social landlords (RSLs) across Scotland, with individuals “from all walks of life” being encouraged to apply. Tenant advisors will have a number of responsibilities, including acting as ‘mystery shoppers’ to assess information and materials produced by landlords. They will also be asked to review the SHR’s draft publications and website to ensure that its material is accessible and user-friendly for tenants. The tenants will also ask other service users for their views to give the SHR a direct user perspective to add to other regulatory evidence.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/scottish-regulator-to-…
# International, Public and community housing.Another Mr Fluffy asbestos home found in Canberra — seventh identified since buyback scheme
Susan McDonald ABC (No paywall)Another house with Mr Fluffy asbestos insulation has been found in Canberra — the second contaminated property discovered in the past year. ... The loose-fill material was discovered in the ceiling cavity by a building inspector preparing a report for the property to be sold in mid-December 2021. A full assessment by an asbestos assessor confirmed the asbestos was installed in an extension area of the ceiling cavity, where it lay hidden under other insulation. The property is the seventh to be found since the ACT government embarked on its $1 billion scheme in 2014 to buy back and demolish all homes tainted by Mr Fluffy asbestos.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-11/another-mr-fluffy-home-id…
# Australia, Asbestos, lead, hazardous materials.‘Appallingly handled’: Development sparks fury in Alexandria’s golden triangle
Carrie Fellner The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Alexandria’s “golden triangle” is prized for its tranquil, tree-lined streets, untouched by the march of high-rise development through gentrified inner Sydney. So it’s unsurprising the bulldozing of its federation cottages to make way for a townhouse development has rankled neighbours in the sought-after locale.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/appallingly-handled-developm…
# NSW, Local Government, Planning and development.Coastal properties at highest climate risk could fall in value in 18 months
Elizabeth Redman Domain (No paywall)Many city dwellers have made a sea-change during the pandemic, sending property prices in some coastal hotspots soaring. But coastal properties at the highest risk of climate change impacts could start to fall in value as soon as 18 months from now, an expert has warned.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/coastal-properties-at-highe…
# NSW, Strata, Climate change, Housing market.Where buyers splashed the most cash on sea changes last year
Elizabeth Redman Domain (No paywall)City dwellers poured cash into coastal property amid last year’s lockdowns, and the trend is showing no signs of slowing amid the Omicron outbreak. When measured by the areas with the highest total value of sales in 2021, according to CoreLogic figures the most popular regional town in NSW was Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/where-buyers-splashed-the-m…
# Australia, Housing market, Regional NSW.