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
Policy priests should tell young Australians the truth about homeownership and supply
Jason Falinski The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)I have a confession to make. This month, when the House of Representatives Committee on Tax and Revenue convened to hear from Treasury, the Department of Social Services, and the Reserve Bank on housing affordability, their evidence did not have my full attention. ... [and he concludes by saying] I ask you: should we accept the unfair deficit of seats on the housing bus or stand up to the outrageous misuse of power by the high priests of policy who lie to all of us to protect their privileged position?
https://www.smh.com.au/national/policy-priests-should-tell-young…
# Australia, Housing market.International Tenants' Day on 4 October
(No paywall)International Union of Tenants, IUT has chosen the theme: ”Covid recovery, climate, and construction” for the International Tenants’ Day 2021. For more than a year the COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive human and economic harm on a global scale. Still it isn’t over, and the recovery will require immense investments, financially and on a human level. The housing sector as a result is subject to the same challenges as before the pandemic – just even deeper and more severe. Tenants, as a vulnerable group on the housing market, as a result of loss of income have faced evictions and rent arrears. ... Housing must be a focus for recovery plans. Consequently, the essence of a new post-pandemic housing policy must be based on the availability of affordable housing for all! Such policy should include the following ... [Check out this excellent set of recommendations] (International Union of Tenants)
https://www.iut.nu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IUTITD2021PR.pdf
# Must read International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.The new housing trend that could save you up to 90 per cent of your energy costs
Daniel Lo Surdo The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)With more people housebound and exposed to the quality of their homes during lockdowns, a new form of construction standard is emerging that embraces sustainable building practices at our front door. Passive houses are built to have year-round natural climate control, are free from mould or condensation, and consume as much as 90 per cent less heating and cooling energy than standard houses. It is considered the most rigorous, energy and health-based standard in the design and construction industry.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-new-housing-trend-that-c…
# Australia, Utilities water energy internet, Health, Minimum habitability standards, Planning and development, State Government.On "structured misrepresentation" ... or why we need to stop telling lies about our housing and planning policies
News from the front desk The Fifth Estate (No paywall)Professor Peter Phibbs got a rousing retirement send off from his gig as director of the University of Sydney’s Henry Halloran Trust on Wednesday but he didn’t leave without a few piercing observations on housing and planning. ... It goes like this, he said: Prices rise, people worry, social housing advocates get louder and the government finally decides to hold an inquiry. “And the response is very predictable: after 20 years they say the same thing: the only problem is red tape, taxes and planning regulations. “The federal agencies say it’s land supply. The RBA says it’s nothing to do with us and the Grattan Institute blames NIMBYs.” The whole thing ends up with blame heaped on local government, he says. “The main thing among politicians is to sound concerned, blame someone else and do nothing.” They do nothing because they’re terrified about the prices falling and because most voters are home owners. And as we’ve said countless times developers purport to want lower prices but if the prices fall they immediately stop building. Besides check the landbanks they own, all approved for housing. Phibbs tips that nothing will change until most voters are renters.
https://thefifthestate.com.au/columns/news-from-the-front-desk/o…
# Must read Australia, Rent, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market, Local Government, State Government, Tax.Tenancy Support Package
NSW Fair Trading (No paywall)Copy of email sent by NSW Fair Trading to renters and landlords on Tuesday, 21 September 2021 … This email contains important information for residential tenants, landlords and managing agents about support that is available for tenants and landlords affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, including a freeze on evictions and assistance payments up to $4,500 for rent.
# Must read NSW, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Landlords and agents.Evicted in less than 10 minutes: courts fail tenants broken by pandemic
Maeve McClenaghan (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... People in dire financial straits are losing their homes in a matter of minutes because of a legal system that has failed to account for the catastrophic impact of the pandemic, with judges powerless to prevent evictions being ordered, the Bureau can reveal.
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2021-09-23/evicted…
# International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market, Landlords and agents, No-grounds evictions.Where is the Brussels protest against the housing crisis?
Charlotte Deprez (No paywall)Thousands of people went to protest in Amsterdam against the current housing policy last Sunday. The protesters demanded affordable housing. Living in Brussels is also becoming too expensive for more and more people. 'I think if policy makers don't come up with fair solutions soon, more movements like the one in Amsterdam will arise,' said Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General of Housing Europe. (Apache) [Copy link to Chrome, open and then click English translation]
https://www.apache.be/2021/09/15/waar-blijft-brusselse-protest-t…
# International, Rent, Affordable housing, Housing market.IMF calls on regulators to rein in booming Sydney, Melbourne house prices
Shane Wright and Jennifer Duke The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Australian regulators have been urged to cool the booming housing market, with the International Monetary Fund warning a property price correction would pose a significant risk to the nation’s economic stability. Tightening restrictions on lending is among major recommendations from the IMF to take the heat out of the property sector along with ramping up home building and reforming generous housing-related tax benefits. ... IMF Australia mission chief Harald Finger said rising house prices were “collateral damage” from low interest rates to help stabilise the economy during coronavirus and reach the Reserve Bank’s inflation target. ... In its report, the IMF also encouraged policymakers to consider housing supply reforms, including better planning, zoning and infrastructure, as well as incentives to local councils to streamline zoning regulations and improve infrastructure. Promoting flexible working arrangements was also pointed out as a possibility, helping move workers out of cities and improving affordability.“In addition, governments should focus on providing targeted fiscal support for low-income households and expand social housing,” the IMF said.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/imf-calls-on-regulators-…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Federal Government, Housing affordability, Housing market, Local Government, Planning and development, State Government, Tax.