Dr Johari Hussein Nassor Amar

Renting in Australia is no longer just expensive. It is unstable, exhausting and quietly wearing people down.In this episode of Navigating the Rental Market During Housing Crisis, I am joined by Alice Pennycott, Principal Lawyer (Tenancy) at Circle Green Community Legal in WA, and Leo Paterson-Ross, CEO of the Tenants' Union of NSW and a representative of the National Association of Tenant Organisations. This is an honest conversation about what renters are facing, beyond the headlines and the data: Why Australia’s rental system rewards profit while stability falls through the cracksHow vacancy rates mask the reality of people being pushed out, not just priced upWhy doing everything right no longer protects renters from serious mental and financial strainWhy different eviction laws in NSW and WA still produce the same fear of losing homeWhat we lost when housing stopped being a public good, and why rebuilding at scale mattersWhy rental or homelessness insurance won't solve this, and what actually wouldThis conversation names what renters know but rarely say out loud: the fear of being labelled difficult, the data you give up just to compete and the exhaustion of living on the edge.Contrary to what we hear often, this is not a wicked or unsolvable crisis. It’s systemic, human-made and entirely fixable — not through personal resilience, but by changing a system broken by design.What would it actually take to make renting stable, dignified again and humane again?If you rent, work in housing or want to understand why so many people feel stuck despite doing everything right, this is a grounded and necessary discussion worth listening to.#HousingAffordability #HousingInsecurity #HousingJustice #NSWRenters #TenancyRights #WArenters

Over the past 48 hours, four states - Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria - have been hit by extreme weather. Record-breaking October heat, destructive winds and severe storms have left parts of the country reeling from floods and widespread power outages.If anyone still thinks climate change is a future problem, look outside.By 2050, more than one million Australian homes could be uninsurable. According to the Climate Council, flood-prone properties have already lost $42 billion in value and disaster costs are projected to reach $73 billion each year.In Episode 12, I spoke with Danny Rose, Manager Roads and Stormwater Engineering at ⁠Tweed Shire Council⁠ and Deputy President ⁠Floodplain Management Australia⁠, ⁠ and ⁠Patrick Leahy⁠, Director at ⁠SG Group Real Estate Advisors,⁠ about what happens after the disaster . We explored what happens after disaster strikes and how communities are rethinking resilience. Here is what they shared:How the 2011 and 2022 floods reshaped entire regions and led many residents to stop rebuildingWhat happens to roads, drainage and utilities when buybacks transform neighbourhoodsHow councils decide what to rebuild, relocate or retire to reduce future riskWhy advanced flood modelling and the checkerboard effect are changing where new homes can be safely approvedHow buyback lessons are informing recovery in bushfire, wind and landslide-prone areasWhy community education and trust-building are essential before disaster strikesWe are already seeing this play out across NSW and QLD as communities work out what it really means to rebuild safely.This episode builds on:Episode 8 Engineering and Planning Solutions for a Climate-Ready Australia with Pradesh Ramiah and Rob CowleEpisode 10 Can we solve the housing AND climate crisis at the same time? with Ammon Beyerle and Jeremy Mansfield OAM🎧 Tune in to hear how councils and communities are rewriting the rulebook on rebuilding after disaster, and what it means for your home, your investment and your future.Resources mentioned:Australia’s National Climate Risk Assessment (2025) – Australian Climate ServiceFloodplain Management Australia – national network for flood resilience and planningTweed Shire Council Floodplain Management – practical examples of recovery and adaptation#Buybacks #BuiltEnvironment #HousingResilience #FloodManagement #SustainableHousing

When more than 10,000 Australians experience homelessness every month and rental vacancy rates sit just above 1%, you would think every state would be doing everything possible to encourage affordable housing. The reality tells a different story.In this episode, I am joined by Paul Zanetti, Founder and Director of Brisbane Rooming Houses, to explore a housing model that provides secure, executive-style studios (30-60 sqm) designed for long-term residents at a more affordable price than traditional rentals, featuring:Private ensuite and kitchenetteAll bills included (power, water, internet)Furnishings, air conditioning and digital securityCommunal spaces that encourage social connection and reduce isolationRents around $400–$500 per week compared with $700+ for a typical one-bedroom apartmentThere is strong demand for this housing, especially from low-income workers and vulnerable households, and half of all enquiries come from couples who could share costs at about $200 each per week. However, Queensland’s rules prohibit shared occupancy, creating another barrier to supply when affordability is already under pressure.In the past five years, Queensland has gained about 146,000 new residents from other states, leading the nation in population growth. Yet it remains the only state charging up to $26,000 per room in infrastructure fees, rising by $2,000 each year, and adding more than $130,000 to a typical five-room project before construction even begins.Our discussion explores:Whether infrastructure charges reflect genuine growth costs or are limiting new housing supplyWhat Victoria and Western Australia are doing differently to attract investment and expand affordable optionsHow ‘convenient living’ of accommodation can reduce rental stress and create faster pathways to housingThe real cost of policy inaction and what reforms could make an immediate differencePaul’s key message is clear: government and private providers need to work together. With 95% of Australia’s housing delivered by the private sector, supporting affordable models like rooming accommodation could make a meaningful difference fast.🎧 Listen to Episode 9 to hear:How small regulatory changes could halve rent for many tenantsReal examples of investment shifting between statesWhat practical reforms could unlock thousands of affordable roomsWhy renting out rooms without proper rooming or boarding certification can lead to planning breaches, insurance issues and tax liabilitiesFor so long, the focus has been on Airbnb reducing long-term rental supply, yet rooming accommodation is growing but restricted by policy inconsistencies, highlighting the need to consider whether housing policy should be consistent across the nation or responsive to state/territories plans.#RoomingAccommodation #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #QueenslandHousing #UrbanPolicy #InfrastructureCharges

Traditional construction now takes about 55 weeks just to finish one home and meanwhile more than 160,000 households are waiting for social housing. On top of that around 10,000 people fall into homelessness every month. We can’t keep up if we keep building the old way.In this Episode 7 of Season 1 Australian Housing Challenges and Solutions I talk with Nicholas O’Neill, Managing Director at Moov Modular, and Damien Crough, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of prefabAUS, about how prefab and modular housing might help ease Australia’s housing crisis by delivering the speed, quality and affordability we desperately need.What we askHow do prefab homes get built in 16 weeks versus 55 weeks and, if it works, why isn't everyone doing it?Why is some legislation e.g. NSW's Manufactured Building Act still blocking prefab homes that meet the NCC and even preventing the local governments from delivering affordable and social housing?Could prefab be the most practical option for regional and remote areas where builders are scarce and climate demands are tough?How do different transport rules across state borders create hidden costs and extra complexity for moving modular homes?Why does CommBank now back prefab mortgages and how do factory checks ensure fewer defects and lower risks thank traditional projects?Things you will discoverHow the end of the car industry in 2010s transferred automation knowledge and skills into the prefab sectorThere are six categories of prefab with 1,190+ companies in the supply chain, creating resilience but requiring coordination for quality standardsUpcoming release of a standardised contract backed by major banks will boost lender participation and build confidence in finance, planning and regulation.Channel 9 will air the TV program 'Epic Builds: The 90-Day Challenge' in 2026 showcasing the speed, quality and performance of prefab construction including its benefits for the housing sector.Damien and Nick cautioned that not all construction companies and builders have the expertise in MMC. It requires knowledge of both factory manufacturing processes and site-specific solutions, from assessing access constraints to matching the right prefab methodology to each location’s unique conditions.Stay informed about prefab housing regulations and certification schemes, and explore industry information plus a directory of local manufacturers and builders by state through resources such as the NCC Modern Method of Construction Handbook, prefabaus.org.au, CommBank Prefabricated HomesKeywords: affordable and social housing, Australian housing crisis, housing finance, modular housing, modern methods of construction (MMC), prefab construction, sustainable housing

Most people don’t think much about planners, yet they shape the way neighbourhoods grow and the liveability of our cities. The market may deliver housing, but planners create the frameworks that guide development and keep growth sustainable. Without their direction, cities risk becoming less affordable, less accessible and less able to meet the needs of an ageing population, while expanding without a clear plan.In this episode I speak with Nicole Bennetts, state manager of QLD and NT for the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), and Dr Daniel O’Hare, associate professor of urban planning at Bond University, about the pressing housing challenges in Australia. We look at why planners are needed more than ever, why their work is often invisible, and how planning can help create stronger and more sustainable communities.Some of the key ideas we explore are:Demographic wheel for intergenerational housing – the idea that housing should support people at different stages of life and allow flexibility across generationsQuality in my backyard (Quimby) – moving beyond the extremes of YIMBYs (yes in my backyard) and NIMBYs (not in my backyard) to focus on quality development that benefits communitiesConsolidated growth – managing urban expansion by building inwards and upwards instead of sprawling outwardsA growth mindset in urban planning – encouraging communities to embrace change and see the opportunities that come with developmentDevelopers and housing finance – recognising that private investors provide most housing stock, so they cannot be blamed for everything, and calling for a shift away from housing as a financial asset towards affordability and accessibility, especially in well-located areasThe 3As framework, which sets out three key priorities:Affordability should include not only housing costs but also essential expenses, with climate resilience in mindAccess should cover design, tenure and transport that connect people to jobs, services and opportunitiesAgeing should involve homes and neighbourhoods that provide amenities, social life and flexibility across generationsUrban leadership change – highlighting the need for leaders who can guide growth with vision and innovation, build trust in communities and drive the kind of change needed to create sustainable and liveable citiesNicole’s passion for planning began with her love of SimCity, a game that opened her eyes to how cities could be designed. That interest grew when a planner visited her school. Daniel, despite growing up in a rural area, was drawn to urban planning because of vibrant, functional urban spaces led him to pursue a career where he could help shape the very cities he admired

In this episode, I sit down with housing expert Mr Mike Myers and economist Dr Diaswati (Asti) Mardiasmo to explore the challenges and opportunities facing affordable housing in Australia, with a particular focus on the Build to Rent (BtR) model. Mike, Chair of the Queensland Housing All Australians Committee and head of Project Solo, brings over four decades of experience in social and affordable housing. Asti, Chief Economist at PRD, draws on more than 20 years of analysing economic trends that shape property markets in Australia and abroad.The conversation examines the structural and policy barriers that limit the broader rollout of BtR, including its classification in Australia as a commercial asset rather than infrastructure. This treatment affects planning, taxation and investment incentives, creating hurdles that do not exist in comparable international markets. While institutional interest in BtR is growing, both speakers highlight that regulatory misalignment continues to stall its true potential.They also take a critical look at the current BtR business model, which often targets the upper end of the rental market to meet investor return expectations. As a result, BtR developments are frequently positioned as premium assets, offering high-spec amenities that price out many renters. This raises questions about BtR’s long-term sustainability and its ability to serve a broader demographic.One of the key challenges discussed is the reliance on cross-subsidisation — where market-rate tenants help fund a proportion of affordable dwellings within the same development. While this model may help create mixed-income communities, Mike and Asti question its long-term viability without consistent government support. They caution against the emergence of a two-tier rental system and argue that policy makers must address affordability head-on rather than relying on indirect mechanisms.The discussion also highlights the importance of regional equity, innovation in construction, and a more balanced housing mix. With an estimated shortfall of 750,000 affordable and social homes nationally, the speakers agree that CHPs alone cannot carry the burden of supply, and that broader partnerships are needed.Mike puts forward the idea that Ana Bligh, former Queensland Premier and now CEO of the Australian Banking Association, could play a pivotal role in driving national leadership and attracting international investment for affordable housing, helping to close the gap between good policy and practical outcomes.This episode offers a thoughtful and realistic view of where BtR fits in Australia’s housing future and what must change for it to become a truly inclusive, sustainable solution.Keywords: Build to Rent, affordable and social housing, housing policy, urban development, cross-subsidy, premium asset, housing future, Australia