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
‘It’s a public health emergency’: Call for nine actions to stop domestic, family, sexual violence
Kelly Fuller ABC (No paywall)More than 100 different health and education experts have signed an open letter supporting nine key actions they want adopted that will be presented at next week's national women's safety summit in Canberra.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-03/open-letter-on-dv-and-tra…
# Australia, Domestic violence, Public and community housing, Affordable housing, Health, Women.Scottish Greens co-leader appointed minister for zero carbon buildings and tenants’ rights
Lucie Heath Inside Housing (Paywall)A first, from Scotland: Minister for Tenants' Rights, with the responsibility of a new deal for tenants ... Patrick Harvie and fellow Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater are both set to become ministers in the Holyrood government, marking the first time Green Party representatives have been appointed to government in any part of the UK. Mr Harvie will be minister for zero carbon buildings, active travel and tenants’ rights. Read more in the Scottish Housing News at: [https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/article/patrick-harvie-set-to-be-appointed-as-minister-for-tenants-rights]. Read more on the BBC at: [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58268743]. Read more in The Guardian at: [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/30/co-leaders-of-scottish-greens-to-become-ministers-at-holyrood]. Read the Scottish Government's media release at: [https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/minister-for-zero-carbon-buildings-active-travel-and-tenants-rights/#:~:text=Patrick%20Harvie%20MSP%20was%20appointed,Tenants'%20Rights%20in%20September%202021].
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/scottish-greens-co-leader-a…
# Must read International, Rent, Utilities water energy internet, Campaigns and law reform, Climate change, Housing market, Human rights, State Government.Rent relief extended for landlords and tenants
Jimmy Thomson (No paywall)The NSW Government has announced an increase to the Residential Tenancy Support Package to up to $4,500 per tenancy and an extension to the eviction moratorium until 11 November 2021, giving increased security to residential tenants impacted by COVID-19. (Flat Chat) You can check out this media release from the NSW Liberal party at: [https://nsw.liberal.org.au/Shared-Content/News/2021/Financial-assistance-extended-for-tenants-and-landlords].
# NSW, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, State Government.Tackling Energy Poverty
Marlene Even (No paywall)Energy poverty is a complex socioeconomic issue. Many people are experiencing the health, social, and economic disadvantages of living in energy inefficient homes. In this episode, we discuss minimum energy efficiency standards for renters and access to renewable energy. (Whooshkaa)
# TUNSW in the media, Audio NSW, Rent, Utilities water energy internet, Housing market.10,000 Airbnbs and nowhere to live: Cornwall’s housing crisis
Indra Warnes (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Cornwall is a county of two halves. Green fields and bright blue seas. Tourists and locals. A playground for the rich and famous, and the second poorest region in northern Europe. More than 18,000 empty homes and 16,000 people on a waiting list for council housing. Some 10,000 Airbnbs and, at one point last month, fewer than 50 homes available to rent. (openDemocracy)
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/10000-airbnbs-a…
# Hot topic International, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Homelessness, Housing market, Short-term holiday letting.Homeless people in Cornwall ‘turfed out’ of housing as landlords try to ‘make a quick buck’ from staycations
Serina Sandhu (No paywall)Hundreds of homeless people in Cornwall have been “turfed out” of hotels and temporary housing due to the unprecedented demand for tourist accommodation. Landlords have been accused of making “a quick buck” from the staycation boom, with many holidaymakers opting for the South West of England rather than abroad because of Covid-19 travel restrictions.
https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/homeless-people-cornwall-turfed-out-…
# Hot topic International, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19, Homelessness, Housing market.120 ordered into isolation as COVID case sends Hunter Valley hotel for homeless into lockdown
Giselle Wakatama ABC (No paywall)A motel near Newcastle is in lockdown with scores of guests tested for COVID-19 after a woman staying there tested positive to the virus. The woman is among 10 new COVID cases in the Hunter Valley region on Friday. She was staying at a motel about 20 kilometres out of Newcastle with, the ABC understands, about 120 guests. The motel offers cheap accommodation for people without permanent housing due to a rental crisis in the region.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-03/covid-nsw-motel-homeless-…
# NSW, Coronavirus COVID-19, Health, Homelessness.COVID-19 exposes Australia's stark health inequalities — and threatens to entrench them further
Olivia Wells ABC (No paywall)Australians, on the whole, are fortunate when it comes to their health. Generally, people enjoy a high standard of living and access to universal health care, and Australia consistently ranks well on measures such as life expectancy and mortality rates. But beneath gross measures of health and high OECD rankings lies deeply-entrenched, longstanding inequalities. The gap in health outcomes between Australia's rich and poor is substantial, and has been laid bare for all to see over the course of the pandemic.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2021-09-04/covid-19-exposes-a…
# Hot topic Australia, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, Families, Health, Housing market, Race and ethnicity.