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May 2005 News Article
31 May New house sales up in April
A stronger month for Victoria and Queensland has led to a lift in new homes sales in April, according to Housing Industry Association figures release today (May 30).
31 May Homeowners warned of rat invasion
As the temperatures get cooler, rats and mice are looking for more warmth and food and most Australians make them welcome -- without knowing it.
27 May Planning approval and fees to go for most homes
The bulk of new houses and extensions will not need planning approval by ACT Land and Planning under a proposal announced today (May 27) by Planning Minister Simon Corbell.
24 May New town near Googong next year
Work on a town of 20,000 people will begin next year.
24 May Land tax cut in NSW – for some
More than 400,000 property owners in NSW will be relieved of land tax from January 1, 2006, under today’s (May 25) Budget.
24 May MLA’s shot a private rental providers under fire
An attack on Canberra's private rental providers by Housing Minister John Hargreaves was condemned by the ACT Opposition today (May 23).
23 May Lenders using untested valuations: APRA
Financial institutions are using housing valuation methods that have been untested in a falling market, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority warned today (May 23).
21 May ACT changes development model in Gungahlin
The ACT Government is to hand development of the new suburb of Forde to a single body in an attempt to avoid mistakes elsewhere in Gungahlin, it was reported today (May 21).
18 May NSW set to cut land tax
NSW is to cut land tax in next week’s Budget, according to a report today (May 18).
17 May Value of architect design to be tested
Architects are putting their value on the line.
14 May New ABS house price index welcomed
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is to develop a new House Price Index.
13 May Liberals slam delays over home building and extensions
Confusion and inconsistency between government departments is having significant ramifications on the Development Application and Approvals process (DAA), according to a Liberal MLA today (May 13).
11 May Budget good for housing industry: HIA
The Federal Budget was described today (May 11) as being good for the housing industry.
11 May Housing finance shows stable market
Lending for owner occupier housing rose for the ninth consecutive month in March, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today (May 11).
9 May Dob in a vacant house
The ACT Opposition spokeswoman on housing, Jacqui Burke, called on Canberrans today (May 9) to contact her with details of unoccupied public housing properties across the ACT.
6 May Reserve warns of another rise
Another interest rate rise is likely, according to the Reserve Bank’s review of monetary policy issued today May 6.
6 May Auditor slams planning in ACT
The Auditor-General has slammed planning in the ACT.
4 May More planning delays likely: Libs
Cuts to ACTPLA staff numbers as part of the Budget will lead to even longer delays in building approvals, and further increases in the cost of building a home, according to Opposition planning spokesman Zed Seselja.
4 May Water rates up; interest rates on hold
Mixed news for homeowners came today (May 4) with the Reserve Bank announcing it would not increase interest rates but ACT authorities announcing an increase in water rates.
3 May Apartment approvals plummet
Approvals for apartments have fallen sharply.
3 May Rates and land tax up in ACT Budget
Rates will go up by more than the CPI and land tax by the CPI, according to the ACT Budget delivered today (May 3).
1 May Residential building costs fall
Average residential building prices fell in the March quarter of 2005 by 0.6 per cent, according to the Housing Industry Association trades report published today (May 1).