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
Could Australia adopt Finland's plan to end homelessness?
ABC (No paywall)Over the past three years, homelessness in Australia has grown by at least 10 per cent. Meanwhile in Finland, a strategy known as Housing First has seen long-term homelessness rates drop significantly over the past decade. The idea is simple: instead of moving people through hostels and emergency shelters, give them permanent housing first — and then provide the support they need. So could it work here, and what would it take to implement at scale?
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/lifematters/could-we-adop…
# Audio International, .In Defense of QUIMBY — a Rebuttal
Michael W. Mehaffy Planetizen (No paywall)I noted recently that my listserv colleague Michael Lewyn, a professor of law at Touro University, provided a thoughtful critique right here on this site of the “QUIMBY” concept, short for “Quality In My Back Yard.” (He described it as “Quality Urbanism In My Back Yard” — close enough in my book.) As one of the people who articulated the concept (in these pages and elsewhere as early as 2018), I think I should address several points. First, let me concede — or, more accurately, heartily agree with Michael — that we in the U.S. do need more housing supply, at least in many markets.
https://www.planetizen.com/features/137059-defense-quimby-rebutt…
# Hot topic International, .Property company denies trying to mass-evict tenants before England’s no-fault evictions ban
Peter Walker The Guardian (No paywall)A property company accused of trying to mass-evict tenants in the weeks before no-fault evictions are banned has denied doing so, saying it is simply implementing “routine and lawful tenancy management”. A statement from Criterion Capital, set up by the billionaire property magnate Asif Aziz, was issued in response to Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, who wrote to the company to seek “urgent” answers about its plans. Criterion has reportedly sent section 21 notices, which give notice of proposed eviction, to large numbers of its tenants.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/24/criterion-capita…
# International, Eviction.High levels of debt on essential UK bills are the ‘new normal’, warn campaigners
Hilary Osborne The Guardian (No paywall)High levels of debt on essential bills have become the “new normal” for many low-income households, the charity StepChange said on Monday, with average arrears for housing, utilities and council tax all going up last year. People’s budgets have been stretched in recent years as they have faced higher prices for many goods and services, and the crisis in the Middle East has led to concerns over a new wave of increases.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/mar/16/debt-high-levels-e…
# International, Rent, Utilities water energy internet.Greens announce plan to end homelessness & fix housing crisis
Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick New Zealand Greens Party (No paywall)The Green Party has announced today their new campaign A Home for Everybody, calling to end homelessness, fix renter’s rights, and end the housing crisis once and for all. “In a country like Aotearoa, with our wealth of resources and skills, there is no excuse for people to go without a decent home, let alone any home at all,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. “In 2022, 46% of renting households spent more than 30% of their income on rent, compared to 19% of renters in 1988. Since 2003, house prices have increased by 230%, while the median household income has only increased by 137%.”
https://www.greens.org.nz/greens_announce_plan_to_end_homelessne…
# International, Rent.Fair go for renters in tax reform
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)Renters deserve stable, affordable homes - not a system that rewards property portfolios.
Right now, property investors are getting billions in tax breaks through negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount but renters aren't getting much in return. The Federal Budget is just weeks away and these tax breaks are under debate right now. Politicians are hearing loudly from the property lobby. They need to hear from renters too. Send a message to your MP using the template below to get started. You can edit the message or write your own. Every email makes a difference.
New advice to Aussie renters to tackle $2,300 landlord issue: 'Avoidable'
Kamilia Palu Yahoo News (No paywall)Almost a quarter of renters in one Aussie state are losing out on part of their bond money at the end of their lease, with one in 10 tenants losing the entire amount — on average, more than $2,300. While most renters get their bond back in full, Tenants' Union NSW says "too many" are losing their money for reasons that are "avoidable". The union has now unleashed a new weapon for renters to keep in their back pockets — a complete guide to protecting your bond and how to claim it back as soon as you've returned the keys.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/new-advice-to-aussie-renters-to-tackle…
# Must read, TUNSW in the media NSW, Bond, Public and community housing, Starting a tenancy.Victim-survivor's 'demoralising' efforts to secure safe social housing
Isabella Ross ABC (No paywall)A young woman who fled her family home to escape domestic violence, only to experience separate threats and harassment while in social housing, is calling on the state government to assist in her effort to find stable, suitable accommodation. Laura, whose name has been changed for privacy reasons, had received a social housing property in Western Sydney after escaping a family member, who she now has an active apprehended violence order (AVO) against. She was relieved to have found a safe space, or so she thought.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-20/domestic-violence-victim-…
# TUNSW in the media NSW, Domestic violence, Public and community housing, Security and safety.