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
Curbs on risky lending won’t solve the housing affordability crisis
Alan Kohler The New Daily (No paywall)Any day now the banking regulator, APRA, is going to do “macroprudential” policies, after the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg this week gave it a superfluous green light. It means APRA will soon tell the banks to make fewer risky loans. What, you might be wondering, are they waiting for? Why have the banks been allowed to make so many risky loans already, with the result that house prices have surged 18 per cent in the past 12 months? Good question. There are two reasons for this in my view ...
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2021/09/30/macroprud…
# Australia, Federal Government, Housing affordability, Housing market.Welcome to the new AHURI website
AHURI (No paywall)We are pleased to launch the brand new AHURI website – delivered as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring our research, policy analysis and housing and urban industry news is accessible to our audiences. We have made some important changes that we hope will make your experience more enjoyable, and most importantly, better connect you with the research you are looking for.
So what’s new?
https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/news/welcome-new-ahuri-website
# Research alert Australia, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Rent, Home ownership, Homelessness, Housing market, Planning and development.In Darwin, the Malak Caravan Park's rezoning could see pensioners evicted
Isabel Moussalli ABC (No paywall)For years, the KOA and Malak Caravan Park in Darwin has welcomed tourists along with more than 50 permanent residents who found affordable housing there as the city's rental prices increased. But those residents now fear they could soon become homeless as the park takes another step towards a major redevelopment.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-29/malak-caravan-park-rezoni…
# Australia, Land lease communities, Homelessness, Older people.Regulators poised to intervene in Sydney, Melbourne property boom
Jennifer Duke and Shane Wright The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Sydney and Melbourne home buyers face tougher lending standards within months amid warnings the surge in super-sized mortgages to buy into expensive suburbs is outpacing income growth. House prices in the nation’s two largest capital cities have risen by hundreds of dollars a day this year and a new survey shows property industry experts are expecting this growth to continue over the next 12 months.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/regulators-poised-to-int…
# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Home ownership, Housing market.‘A little bit scary’: Meet the single mum buying a house with a 2 per cent deposit
Sezen Bakan The New Daily (No paywall)Single parents battling soaring house prices are climbing onto the property ladder with ultra-low deposits. A number of government incentives is making it possible, even as Australian home buyers suffer the worst affordability crisis in more than a generation.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/09/27/house-family-home-…
# Australia, Federal Government, Home ownership.House price growth to slow, one way or another
John Collett The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The madness of rising house prices cannot be allowed go on. Apart from higher prices making it harder for our kids to get into the property market, there is the broader impact on the economy. Ever bigger mortgages simply mean less of our wealth is used for productive pursuits, such as capital going into new start-ups that employ people, or invested in companies working on cures for diseases.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/borrowing/house-price-growth-to-slo…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.How to be the best landlord to your tenants
Sue Williams Domain (No paywall)When making an investment decision, everyone researches the property, the location and the interest rate, but many forget completely to consider the person who rents that home and provides the income. And that’s the difference between a minimal landlord and one who’s going to earn the best reputation and attract the best tenants for the longest periods. ... Also, think carefully about what you’re offering a tenant, recommends Tenants Union of NSW Leo Patterson Ross CEO. Make sure, for example, to have cash reserves ready to sort maintenance issues promptly. “You’re providing a service of housing in exchange for rent, so you should act accordingly,” he says. “Think about what you’re offering. Some tenants might really appreciate having the option of a longer fixed term, with the security and stability that brings, and they might be happy to pay a premium for that. “Flexibility is also appreciated. Allow them to paint walls if it doesn’t reduce the value of the property. That can make a real difference to the experience of living in a place.”
https://www.domain.com.au/news/how-to-be-the-best-landlord-to-yo…
# TUNSW in the media Australia, Rent, Repairs, Starting a tenancy, Fixtures - lights, aircon etc, Landlords and agents.The pandemic is pushing Australia's hot property market to a whole new level — and the regulator is watching closely
David Taylor ABC (No paywall)You could argue the Australian property market has never been "hotter". That is, property price growth is at or near record highs, repaying a mortgage has never been cheaper and buying a first home has never been harder (in terms of the size of the deposit required). But what is it actually like selling property right now?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-29/australia-hot-property-ma…
# Australia, Housing market.