Housing

• The Trump administration is dismantling civil rights protections in housing that have been used to challenge discriminatory practices, marking a significant shift in federal enforcement of fair housing laws. • The policy reversal affects regulatory mechanisms historically used to combat housing discrimination and bias, with implications for fair lending and rental practices across the United States. • Civil rights advocates and housing advocates are expected to challenge the rollback, with potential legal battles anticipated over the constitutionality and necessity of the protections.

Estate agents say rising mortgage costs have created a mood of fear, with Canterbury among the cities being hitHave you lost a mortgage deal or seen your rate rise?On a warm, spring morning in Canterbury, the cobbled streets are buzzing with activity and the white Tudor houses gleam in the sun.It is a scene that seems far removed from events in the Middle East, but the conflict is undermining business and consumer confidence – rattling the city’s housing market just as the spring selling season began. Continue reading...

Datacentres ‘directly competing’ with possible residential builds near public transport, one council tells NSW inquiry, amid growing concernsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDatacentre developments are crowding out opportunities for housing and job-rich industries across Sydney, a New South Wales inquiry has heard, with one local council reporting a rise in blackouts linked to the industry’s expansion.Several Sydney councils, all facing an influx of datacentre developments, have raised concerns about the health, environmental and amenity impacts on their local communities in submissions to the state’s datacentre inquiry. Continue reading...

Simon Dudley fired after his comments were condemned by prime minister and families of fire victimsReform UK’s housing spokesperoson has been sacked his role after he described the Grenfell Tower fire as a “tragedy” but said that “everyone dies in the end”.Keir Starmer had called on Nigel Farage to sack Simon Dudley, a former head of Homes England, after his comments, which were condemned by Grenfell families and others. Continue reading...

Labour says it is ‘untenable’ for Simon Dudley to continue in his role after he said that Grenfell was tragic ‘but everyone dies in the end’Good morning. One of the big policy decisions for all parties ahead of the next election is whether or not to keep the pensions triple lock. Most mainstream economists and welfare experts think it is overly generous (pensioners used to be significantly poorer than working-age people, but that is no longer the case), and ultimately unaffordable. But it is popular, and pensioners turn out to vote in elections in much higher numbers than younger people.The Conservatives at one point suggested they might drop it, but Kemi Badenoch now defends the triple lock quite strongly. Labour has not said what its election plans are yet. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK, says he will take tough decisions to cut welfare spending, and he was thought to be sceptical about the triple lock. But Robert Jenrick, his Treasury spokesperson, is thought to be in favour, and at a press conference later they are expected to confirm Reform UK would keep it.Reform UK is facing calls to sack its housing spokesman after he said the Grenfell Tower fire was a “tragedy” but that “everyone dies in the end”.Simon Dudley, a former executive at Homes England and the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, said the pendulum had “swung too far the wrong way” on regulation after the deadly blaze at the west London tower block in 2017.If Nigel Farage has an ounce of decency, he will sack his housing chief immediately.These disgraceful comments about those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire are beyond the pale and it is completely untenable for Simon Dudley to continue in his position. Continue reading...

• The Trump administration has proposed a federal regulation that would prohibit families with mixed immigration status from receiving housing assistance or living in public or Section 8 housing. • The proposal could evict approximately 80,000 people, including 37,000 children who are U.S. citizens, forcing mixed-status families to choose between homelessness or separation. • Advocates argue the rule directly targets immigrant families and contradicts current policy allowing federal housing assistance for families with mixed legal status, where the government only pays for individuals with legal status.

Policymakers should address financial barriers that hinder young people from starting families, says thinktank Politicians hoping to persuade young people in the UK to have more children should prioritise tackling housing affordability, according to research by the Resolution Foundation thinktank.There has been growing concern in recent years about Britain’s declining birthrate, given the long-term fiscal pressures of supporting an ageing population. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Capital gains tax discount and negative gearing rules created ‘extra artificial incentive’ for property speculation, the e61 Institute has foundGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe combination of the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing rules has turbocharged debt-fuelled property speculation over recent decades, according to a new analysis of hundreds of thousands of property investments.The federal budget in three weeks’ time is widely expected to include changes to tax breaks for investors, in an effort to rebalance the tax system away from the wealthiest Australians and to take pressure off home prices. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Senate passed its version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644) by a 89-10 vote, sending it back to the House for reconciliation on federal housing policy reforms. • This bipartisan legislation aims to ease housing development barriers, building on prior House actions amid national affordable housing efforts.

• On March 25, 2026, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1001, the Housing Options Made Easier (HOME) Act, enabling public schools, colleges, and universities to bypass local zoning rules for building housing within three miles of municipalities or counties over 5,000 population. • Developments can reach three stories or match local height limits, marking the first major 2026 housing law in a Democratic push for affordable stock; Polis also signed Senate Bill 26-001 expanding local tax use and credits for workforce housing. • The bill passed despite all Republicans and two House Democrats opposing it, aiming to address housing shortages through institutional properties.

Bill Pulte reportedly urges examination of alleged fraud as New York attorney general’s lawyer attacks ‘vendetta’ The Trump administration’s federal housing director Bill Pulte is asking prosecutors to investigate New York attorney general Letitia James for insurance fraud, according to criminal referrals reported by MS Now and CBS News.The referrals to prosecutors in Florida and Illinois allege that James may have committed mortgage insurance fraud. The allegations center on applications made to Universal Property Insurance company, which is based in Florida, and Allstate in Illinois. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on March 24, 2026, sending it back to the House to increase housing supply through reforms. • The legislation targets zoning and permitting barriers to boost construction amid ongoing housing shortages. • Passage marks a key step in addressing national housing crisis, potentially easing affordability for millions if enacted.

Homes built from March 2028 will produce 75% less greenhouse gas emissions than those built to 2013 standardBuyers of new homes are likely to be shackled to high gas prices for years to come, as the government has delayed bringing into force new regulations on low-carbon housing.Most newly built homes will come equipped with solar panels and heat pumps from March 2028, according to updated regulations for England called the “future homes standard” (FHS), but the government has relented on plans for more stringent rules under pressure from housebuilders. Continue reading...

First responders report 33 injured at multiple sites in Dimona, including a 10-year-old boy in serious conditionMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesAn Iranian missile has hit the Israeli town of Dimona, home to a nuclear facility, in what Iran said was retaliation for strikes on its own nuclear site at Natanz.Dimona hosts a facility just outside the main town widely believed to possess the Middle East’s sole nuclear arsenal, although Israel has never admitted to possessing nuclear weapons. Continue reading...

• The Senate passed H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, on March 12, 2026, with a bipartisan vote of 89 to 10, combining housing supply and community investment measures. • The bill includes provisions to raise caps on bank community development investments, update the definition of manufactured housing to include modular and prefabricated homes, and restrict large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes. • The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a statement strongly supporting the Senate amendment and indicating the president's advisors would recommend signing it into law if presented in its current form.

• The Senate passed a major bipartisan housing bill on March 12, 2026, with an 89-10 vote, marking the largest housing legislation in 36 years, co-sponsored by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). • The bill implements a hard cap preventing institutional investors from purchasing additional single-family homes once they own 350 properties, and requires build-to-rent homes to be sold within 7 years, triggering depreciation recapture. • The legislation expands manufactured housing definitions to allow factory-built homes without steel chassis, broadens multifamily lending standards, and accelerates permitting timelines to increase overall housing supply.

Borrowers coming off fixed deals hit hard as Savills says big spike in interest payments made up half the overall rise UK households spent a record £226bn to keep a roof over their heads last year, figures showed on Monday, with mortgage borrowers finishing fixed-rate deals particularly hard hit by rising payments.Overall housing costs have gone up by £66bn over the past five years, a rise of 41%, the property group Savills said. Continue reading...

• Governor Abigail Spanberger praised the 2026 General Assembly's passage of bills reducing heating costs (HB2, SB72), establishing a Weatherization Task Force (HB3, SB5), empowering localities on affordable housing (HB4), and improving renter protections (HB15, SB48). • Additional successes include eliminating healthcare premium fees (HB220, SB630), promoting portable solar systems (HB395, SB250), optimizing grid utilization (HB434, SB621), expanding the Eviction Reduction Program (HB527, SB628), limiting prior authorizations (HB736), and boosting healthcare workforce access (HB815, SB405). • Further measures allow communities to adopt affordable housing programs (HB867, SB74), improve power forecasting (HB892), and increase energy storage deployment (HB895, SB448) to lower costs for Virginians.

• House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02) and Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Chairman Mike Flood (NE-01) commended President Trump’s March 15, 2026, executive order removing regulatory barriers to affordable home construction. • The leaders noted the order aligns with bipartisan committee work over the past year to reduce building costs and boost housing supply through commonsense reforms. • They expressed intent to codify the executive order's objectives in upcoming congressional housing legislation to ensure lasting impact.

• Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, merging House H.R. 6644 and Senate S. 2651. • Provisions restrict large institutional investors from single-family home purchases, prohibit Federal Reserve digital dollar, and expand manufactured housing via HUD standards. • Bill reflects Trump administration priorities, eliminates chassis requirements for manufactured homes, and reauthorizes PRICE grants for community preservation.

• The U.S. Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on Thursday designed to make U.S. housing more accessible and affordable, marking a rare bipartisan legislative effort to address the nation's growing housing shortage. • The bill represents a significant policy shift aimed at tackling housing affordability challenges facing American families across multiple income levels. • Congressional support for housing reform reflects bipartisan recognition of the critical need to expand housing supply and reduce barriers to homeownership and rental access.

The Senate approved the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on March 12, 2026, with an 89-10 bipartisan vote, marking the first major housing reform in a decade and including LeadingAge-supported policies for affordable senior housing. The bill creates grants for planning affordable housing, streamlines environmental reviews, and updates manufactured home standards to increase supply. It represents key wins by empowering state and local governments to revise zoning and regulatory barriers hindering development. Further reforms and House action remain needed to fully address senior housing shortages.

The US Senate passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644) on March 12, 2026, by a 89-10 vote, incorporating a temporary prohibition on the Federal Reserve issuing a central bank digital currency defined as a widely available US dollar-denominated digital asset. Section 901(b) bans large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, while Title III eliminates the permanent chassis requirement for manufactured homes to boost affordable housing production. The legislation combines House and Senate versions, reflecting Trump administration priorities, and now awaits House reconciliation amid opposition to Senate amendments. Provisions also increase FHA multifamily loan limits and expand appraiser training to address housing supply shortages.

The US Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on March 12, 2026, aiming to increase construction and limit institutional ownership of single-family homes. The White House endorsed the measure on March 2, highlighting its potential to address affordability challenges. Its path in the House remains uncertain amid midterm pressures. Lawmakers from both parties cite high home prices as a top voter issue, with implementation depending on state and local policies.

The US Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on Thursday, March 12, 2026, aiming to boost construction and limit institutional ownership of homes amid affordability crisis. The measure responds to median home prices at $398,000, five times median income, pressuring both parties before midterms. Its path in the House remains uncertain despite White House support announced March 2. Implementation could take time due to state and local regulations.

President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on March 13, 2026, directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower home buying costs. The orders aim to limit financial institutions' ability to buy single-family homes and cap credit card interest rates, responding to median home prices hitting $398,000 in February—nearly five times the median household income. Housing affordability has become a pivotal issue threatening GOP midterm prospects, especially among voters under 40, amid a bipartisan Senate bill passed Thursday to boost construction. White House officials anticipate mortgage regulation changes could impact buyers within months.

The US Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on March 12, 2026, aimed at increasing construction and curbing institutional home purchases amid affordability woes. The bill's path in the House remains uncertain despite White House support announced March 2. Complementing President Trump's recent executive orders, it addresses voter concerns over home prices five times median income heading into midterms. Implementation hinges on state policies and market rates, with potential construction boosts eyed for relief.

An armed driver rammed his vehicle into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, one of the largest US synagogues with over 140 preschool children inside, on Thursday; officials link the attack to the driver's family members killed in recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon. One person was killed and two injured in the incident. The FBI is probing it as a potential terror act amid rising threats. Law enforcement nationwide is on high alert following this and other attacks.