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
Housing turnover reaches its highest level in nearly 12 years: Core Logic
Sue Williams Domain (No paywall)Home sales this year have hit the highest number since 2004 with a buying frenzy fuelled by rock-bottom mortgage rates, a loosening of credit policies, government incentives and record COVID-19 savings. Nearly 598,000 houses and apartments sold across the country over the year to August 2021, the latest report from CoreLogic has revealed. This is 42 per cent up on the previous 12 months, and 31 per cent above the decade average. ... The disruption caused by the lockdowns, however, has made trends harder to discern, with distortions – like Sydney, for instance, allowing in-person home inspections for purchasers, but Melbourne and Canberra both not permitting them – affecting sales and listings.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/housing-turnover-reaches-its-high…
# Australia, Privacy and access, Housing market.Federal government urged to intervene with states on stamp duty
Jennifer Duke The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)The federal government should provide incentives for states to scrap lucrative stamp duties, housing industry groups and academics say, amid warnings the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating wealth inequality. Multiple submissions to a federal inquiry into housing affordability raised the need to replace state government levied transfer duties with broad-based land taxes, suggesting Canberra could use national cabinet meetings to co-ordinate countrywide reform.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/federal-government-urged…
# Australia, Federal Government, Housing market, Tax.How to more easily cash in on electricity savings
John Collett The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Consumers will soon be able to benefit from savings made by switching electricity retailers much faster. ... Changes to speed up the customer transfer process were initially recommended by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s 2018 Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry and finalised following consultations between the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) and Australian Energy Market Operator.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/how-to-more-…
# Australia, Utilities water energy internet.Property investors warned away from buying inner-city units
Sezen Bakan The New Daily (No paywall)Property investors keen on snapping up inner-city pads in Sydney and Melbourne have been warned not to expect to make a quick buck on their investment. Small city apartments have traditionally been popular with the likes of young professionals and international students. But closed international borders and more opportunities to work from home mean fewer people are interested in city living, which in turn has led to lower returns for property investors.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2021/09/19/investors…
# Australia, Housing market, Landlords and agents.Domain bolsters data solutions with IDS acquisition
Colin Kruger The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Go to 10:51 am at this link: Listings website Domain Holdings has agreed to acquire Insight Data Solutions (IDS) for up to $159 million to help expand its property data solutions business. Domain, majority owned by the publisher of this website, Nine entertainment, says the acquisition establishes it as a market leading provider of land and property valuation, insights and analytics services to the Government sector.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/as-it-happened-asx-close…
# Australia, Housing market.Landlord register is a start in protecting private renters
Polly Neate (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Imagine a mother coming home from dropping her child at nursery to find the locks changed. A family moving into a new home who discovers the smoke alarms are broken. Or a nervous couple fearing another knock at the front door from their abusive landlord. Apart from being shocking, these are all examples of law-breaking behaviour that private renters across England are contending with – as 3.7 million private renters have been victims of illegal behaviour by a landlord or agent. And right now, renters have few means of seeking justice when things go wrong. Private renting is unrecognisable from 20 years ago. In that time, the sector has more than doubled in size and is now home to over 11 million people, including three million children. ... This pandemic has taught us time and again, that home is everything. Many landlords do provide a good service to their tenants, but too many are flouting the law. Meaning millions of renters don’t feel safe and secure in their own home. It’s scandalous that 22 per cent of renters have moved into a property only to find that smoke alarms, central heating or water supplies – all essential, legal requirements – don’t work. ... That’s why private renting needs a serious overhaul – but there is hope. The government has recognised a change is badly needed and its forthcoming Renters’ Reform Bill - with a promise to scrap Section 21 evictions - has the potential to be a landmark piece of legislation. But the government must go further and use this golden opportunity to make private renting fit for purpose, redress the power imbalance between landlords and tenants, and create a fairer system where tenants can fight back against law breaking behaviour. So, this Bill must include a National Landlord Register ... [Read on] (The Times)
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/51623f64-14a1-11ec-8aba-5ab73…
# Must read International, Eviction, Privacy and access, Rent, Repairs, Security and safety, Home, No-grounds evictions.'Robodebt' for insurance – renters around Australia being unfairly pursued
Jarni Blakkarly (No paywall)CHOICE has uncovered more examples from around Australia of renters being pursued over accidental property damage. The examples of bad practice relate to three major insurance companies. Some insurance companies are treating renters fairly, but others are not. ... You can join the campaign to ban insurers pursuing renters for debts they don’t owe. Also, see our posting of article entitled: 'Insurance giant GIO pursues Horsham couple for almost $78,000 over fire in rental property' in our issue on 9 September 2021 at: [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-09/gio-suncorp-insurance-company-wants-money-over-fire/100414092] And, check this previous report by Choice at: [https://www.choice.com.au/money/property/renting/articles/landlord-insurers-pursuing-renters]
Older Tenants Voice, Spring edition
(No paywall)In this edition Housing for the Aged Action Group cover our new online forum, discuss our participation strategy, Rainbow Tick Accreditation, and of course review the latest movie about older people's housing. There's some great stories from our clients, members, and staff.
https://www.oldertenants.org.au/sites/default/files/otv-spring-2…
# Australia, Campaigns and law reform.