COVID-19 and housing: consequences for and emerging needs of households

Abstract

This research examines the consequences of COVID-19 for households in regional Australia, and considers that post-pandemic recovery models designed for large cities may not work in regional areas or less-urbanised states.

Pathways to regional housing recovery from COVID-19

“…This research (including Verdouw, Yanotti et al 2020) underscores both the effectiveness of policy responses to COVID-19 to date and the ongoing risks facing regional communities in the wake of the immediate impact of the pandemic. The Tasmanian affordable housing market was in crisis prior to March 2020.…”

“…As our discussion paper highlighted (see Verdouw, Yanotti et al 2020), a broadening of the social security safety net has underpinned relative financial stability for households despite widespread disruptions arising from the pandemic. In regional areas these social supports have been especially important due to lower than average incomes and a higher level of relative disadvantage evident prior to the onset of COVID-19.…”

“…The study was framed around two phases. The first phase drew on all four data collection methods over June to August 2020 to provide a rapid account of the implications of the pandemic (see Verdouw, Yanotti et al 2020). The second phase deepened the inquiry across all four methods, with analysis and findings presented in this final report.…”

“…To date, reports on housing policy responses to the pandemic have highlighted the relative effectiveness of income protection measures in supporting housing security (e.g. NHFIC 2020c; Leishman, Ong et al 2020;Verdouw, Yanotti et al 2020). For example, it is estimated that nationally, JobKeeper and the coronavirus supplement to JobSeeker reduced the incidents of housing affordability stress considerably (Leishman, Ong et al 2020).…”

House price dynamics and internal migration across Australia

“…The Covid-19 pandemic had a strong impact on housing markets and population movements, as outlined in Section 2 and Section 3. Housing preferences have changed in the midst of a global pandemic, reflecting changes in quality of life, along with changes in preferences to be closer to social networks and to the natural environment (Verdouw, Yanotti et al 2021). Crommelin, Denham et al (2022) find that the key benefits of regional city living were housing types and affordability, community connections, access to nature, and the ease of travel within the city-particularly work commutes.…”