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
Bushfire survivors win landmark climate change case against NSW EPA
Michael Condon and David Claughton ABC (No paywall)In a landmark ruling and a win for a bushfire survivors group, the Land and Environment Court has ordered the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to take steps to safeguard against climate change. Bushfire Survivors For Climate Action (BSCA) took the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to court over its climate change policy, arguing the that the EPA had not done enough to stop the pollution of the atmosphere with greenhouse gases. Lisa Cox writes about the same decision in the Guardian at: [https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/aug/26/nsw-bushfire-survivors-win-legal-battle-ordering-epa-to-take-action-on-climate-crisis]. Preston CJ of the NSW Land & Environment Court found that the Environment Protection Authority is to develop environmental quality objectives, guidelines and policies to ensure environment protection from climate change. You can read the decision at: [https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/17b7569b9b3625518b58fd99]
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-26/bushfire-survivors-win-ca…
# Legal significance NSW, Climate change, Planning and development.Australia’s homebuilder scheme may have just been a sugar hit in the pandemic recovery
Greg Jericho The Guardian (No paywall)A key aspect of the Morrison government’s economic recovery plan was the homebuilder program designed to spur the building of houses. It worked as intended but the latest construction data suggests it might have been a sugar hit that has now gone, while the impact of the pandemic on the economy continues. ... And so we find ourselves in the next stage of the pandemic – not just one where we are rolling out the vaccine, but where the need for government incentives and stimulus remains at a time the Morrison government was planning for it to be over.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2021/aug/26/aus…
# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Federal Government, Housing market.Adam Bandt says house prices are rising by $1,200 a day. Is he correct?
RMIT ABC Fact Check ABC (No paywall)The seemingly inexorable rise in house prices has been the subject of political debate for decades, with many blaming Australia's tax rules for favouring investors at the expense of first home buyers. In a July 30 tweet, Greens leader Adam Bandt claimed house prices are rising by $1,200 a day, warning that younger workers have been locked out. "House prices are going up $1200 a day," Mr Bandt said. "Great for property investors, a disaster for every casual worker with smashed savings." Is it correct that house prices are rising by $1,200 a day? RMIT ABC Fact Check investigates. ... While his claim accords with the average daily increase in the median house price in Sydney, the situation in the rest of the country is different.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-26/fact-check-are-house-pric…
# Australia, Federal Government, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market, Landlords and agents, Tax, Young people.On the street and online this library helps the homeless
Alyssa Robinson (No paywall)While Martin Place fell into an uncharacteristic quiet during Sydney’s lockdown, Tuesday nights have provided a cheerful contrast. Week in and week out, people experiencing homelessness know that’s when they can find friendship, a coffee, a bite to eat – and a good read. The Footpath Library has been providing quality books to people experiencing homelessness since 2003. (South Sydney Herald)
https://southsydneyherald.com.au/on-the-street-and-online-this-l…
# NSW, Homelessness.“Politics is a question of power – not simply of ideas”. On Scotland’s proposal for rent controls
(No paywall)Last week, announced as part of the power-sharing arrangement between the Scottish National Party and the Scottish Greens were proposals to introduce rent controls in Scotland. If implemented, this would be the first time rent controls were in place in Britain since the 1970s. Yet this policy didn't drop out of the sky – it was the result of over 7 years of tenant organising spearheaded by Living Rent [Scotland's Tenants' Union]. To discuss what the deal means, how it came about, and what the next steps are GMHA sat down with Living Rent's Gordon Maloney. (Greater Manchester Housing Action)
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent, Campaigns and law reform.Housing markets around the world have seen house prices soar and affordability worsen
Jules Birch Inside Housing (Paywall)News that house prices are rising at their fastest rate since 2004 highlights both the perverse effects of the pandemic and long-term problems with affordability. ... There is evidence of the same pattern emerging in housing markets around the world: annual house price growth across the 38 richest nations has more than doubled during the pandemic to hit 9.4%, according to the OECD. ... The international comparisons above come from an excellent series on global house prices the Financial Times has been running this month, with obvious relevance for what we can sometimes see as our own unique housing crisis.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/comment/housing-markets-around-t…
# International, Housing market, International.You can’t end homelessness with a temporary bed – people deserve lasting homes
Polly Neate (Paywall)When coronavirus took hold last year, thousands of people sleeping rough were helped off the streets under the “Everyone In” campaign, undoubtedly saving lives. Extra funding and extraordinary efforts by the government, councils and charities meant 37,000 people were found a bed – some in hotels or B&Bs, others in hostels.But you can’t end homelessness with a temporary bed ... (The Independent)
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/homelessness-everyone-in-sh…
# International, Federal Government, Homelessness.Wilcannia housing crisis hope, as town battles COVID in overcrowded homes
Jonathon Poulson ABC (No paywall)Wilcannia residents have been given the strongest indication yet that progress will be made to ease chronic overcrowding due to a lack of housing in the Indigenous community. The town has been demanding answers from the NSW government for years about what is being done to improve the living conditions of residents. ... NSW Water, Property and Housing Minister Melinda Pavey announced funding for 20 new houses for Indigenous families across the area, including eight in Broken Hill, five in Wilcannia, five in Walgett and two in Lightning Ridge.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-29/wilcannia-housing-shortag…
# NSW, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19, State Government.