Want to know what’s going on above, below and all around our ever-changing world of apartment and townhouse living?

Flat Chat has linked up with property news innovators Left Field to bring you a chunk of their links to the stories that reveal what’s really going on.

Every weekday, Left Field sends out a newsletter that pulls together all the property stories from every publication across Australia.

So each week we’ll provide a summary of their links to apartment-related news and promotions from the free sources only (since we know “free” is one of your favourite words). Just click on the headlines to get to the stories.

The Left Field Newsletter also curates stories from the paid-for websites, such as the SMH, the Age, the AFR and all the News Corp titles. And it includes houses and commercial properties. But that amounts to about three times as many links to stories as we could accommodate here.

If you want to get the very latest information from all the sources – and a lot more of it – all you have to do is go to this link, type in your email address and you will get a full summary of the latest property related news in your inbox every weekday.

Meanwhile, here are the hottest headlines from all the free resources in the past week. Have a look and please tell us what you think by clicking on our link to the Flat Chat Forum.

ABC Online

Churches open doors for homeless as Winter Shelter provides refuge
On a cold and rainy midweek afternoon, the hall at St Stephens Uniting Church in Toowoomba’s CBD is a hive of activity. The pews have been stacked to the side, and beds with blankets sit next to a long table lined with cutlery. Gunders Peter

Victorian government housing agency hires homebuyer as part of public housing demolition plans
Homes Victoria is seeking to purchase private dwellings to relocate residents displaced by its plans to demolish 44 public housing towers across the city. The state-run agency put up a job advertisement for a homebuyer, whose duties will include acquiring properties as part of its “high priority Tower Relocations program”. Jesse Thompson

Queensland family faces loss of $45,000 home deposit in Rochedale development dispute with Kinslake
A Queensland family could lose more than half their home deposit because they made a negative comment about their developer online. The developer had already cancelled their contract for a townhouse and now says the family will not receive a full refund because of the reputational damage wrought from the social media post. Alex Turner-Cohen

Domain

This old Sydney apartment block was last for sale when rent there was just $9
This classic brick art deco block in suburban Sydney was last for sale when rents here were just $9 a week. The Waverley walk-up, comprising four two-bedroom apartments, is soon to hit the market with mid-$4 million price expectations. Emily Power
  
Old meets new: The Inner North Canberra suburb united by coffee and green space
It might be the outermost of the Inner North suburbs, but Watson definitely has the 2602 vibe. Nestled in the foothills of Mount Majura, it’s a well-established suburb with pockets of new development, offering something for every buyer. Karen Hardy
 
Why Kiama is the ultimate seaside escape near Sydney
Everyone knows Kiama has a blowhole. (In fact, it has two.) What you might not know is that Kiama Blowhole is the largest in the world. The seaside landmark was formed by a collapsed ancient volcanic vent, eroded down to a 2.5-metre-wide hole. Adeline Teoh

Landlord ‘installs coin-operated shower’ in bathroom of rental home
A woman in the UK has been left fuming after discovering her landlord allegedly installed a coin-operated shower in the bathroom of her rental property. Kate Kachor

Effortless town centre living: new DNA Architects townhouses in Googong hugely convenient
It’s fast-growing, jam-packed with amenities and only 10 minutes from the ACT border. Googong is the fringe suburb that Canberrans are happy to claim as their own. Elly Johnston

Canberra auctions: Apartments show strength in steady Canberra market
Canberra’s auction market continues to tread a steady path, with recent results reflecting a mix of buyer caution and selective confidence. While not without its challenges, the capital is holding its ground amid broader market shifts. Olwyn Conrau
 
The Sydney suburbs where home prices soared most last year
The cost to purchase a home in Sydney has jumped to new peaks, with houses in one suburb rising by almost 40 per cent as buyers hunt for affordable options and interest rate cuts increase competition.
Alice Uribe

Can you really call moving into these luxurious Cronulla apartments a downsize?
South Cronulla is beloved for its effortless combination of natural beauty and a vibrant local community. Jane Nicholls (in partnership with Isla in South Cronulla)
 
The luxury apartments proving good things can last forever
Good things can last forever. That’s the philosophy behind a new residential development in North Sydney that promises to prioritise timelessness over trends.
Allison Worrall (in partnership with The McLaren)

The best properties on the market in Sydney and surrounds right now
Sweeping ocean views and perfectly preserved heritage details are the hallmarks of this week’s best properties for sale in Sydney. Pauline Morrissey and Lou Sweeney
 
The best properties for sale across Melbourne and Victoria right now
We’ve rounded up the best properties on the market right now to help you choose.
Mary O’Brien and Lou Sweeney

Realestate.com.au 

Property mogul’s shock $200k Costco-style Aus unit discounts
A savvy Aussie property richlister has shared how he’s slashed unit purchase prices up to $200,000 less than bank valuations – opening up for everyday Aussies to cash in. Sophie Foster

Melbourne cheap homes: Frankston unit sold under $100k
A Frankston unit has sold for the bargain sum of $99,500 in a deal where the buyer never even set foot in it. Alesha Capone

New earlybird downsizer trend: ‘We have more money and time’
With both of their sons studying overseas, the couple found themselves alone in a large house in Riverview. Curious about the market, they began exploring options and were instantly drawn to the AURA by Aqualand development in North Sydney.
 
Melbourne boom suburbs: Blackburn unit owners’ big win
Husband and wife John Howell and Rhiannon Evans are set to move on from their Blackburn townhouse after significantly renovating the home. Alesha Capone

Circa $2m sale shows Geelong suburb’s premium growth
Manifold Heights’ meteoric rise to Geelong’s most expensive residential real estate can be traced to the 1920s. Peter Farago Geelong
 
Gold Coast penthouse going under the hammer
A new luxury two-level penthouse overlooking two of the most famous surf breaks in Queensland is set to go under the hammer. Aleisha Dawson

Meth contamination: a hidden hazard that could cost your home
Burning eyes, a toxic smell, raging kids – the dark signs of a property’s past that could be putting your family’s future at risk. Kate McIntyre

Sydney suburbs where units still reeling from pandemic
Call it suburban “long Covid” –– many of Sydney’s most popular suburbs before the pandemic are suffering from a chronic, post-pandemic slump in housing values that’s refused to go away. Owen Raymond

Melbourne’s fastest-selling housing hotspots, buyers run out of time
Melbourne’s housing market is picking up pace, with the speed of home sales accelerating in the past year — particularly in areas that had been struggling the most. David Bonaddio
 
Melbourne: 90+ suburbs where house, unit prices have declined
House or unit prices have gone backwards across the past five years in almost 100 Melbourne suburbs — but experts believe we’ll soon see a growing number swap doom for boom. Alesha Capone

Wellness-inspired luxe apartments launched from $1.35m
A new era of luxury beachfront living has arrived at Palm Beach with the launch of Retreat Palm Beach – a boutique collection of 56 wellness-inspired apartments.
Stephen Nadin

When you can – and can’t – enter your rental property
“It’s my property and I have a right to see how my tenant is looking after it” – it’s a common refrain that I hear from landlords all the time. News Corp – Adelaide

Apartments.com.au 

Lendlease announces partners for its $2.5 billion luxury development on Hyde Park
Lendlease has teamed up again with Mitsubishi Estate Asia (MEA),and Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate (NSKRE) to deliver a luxury residential development at their recently acquired Liverpool Street site on Hyde Park.
Joel Robinson
 
200 “climate-responsive” apartments set for West End as Zen Group given green light
Brisbane developer Zen Group has received development approval for its dual-tower apartment project in West End. Joel Robinson 

Holyrood & Hampton presents a walkable, Bayside lifestyle in the heart of Hampton
Those who have already moved into Holyrood & Hampton have highlighted several standout features of their new home, with the location topping the list.
Joel Robinson
 
Keylin Group launches Oria in Victoria Park, Spring Hill Olympic precinct
Developer Keylin is putting its mark on the booming Spring Hill property market, one of the strongest markets in Queensland which is being driven by the announcement that the heart of the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics will be developed in the small northern Brisbane suburb.
Joel Robinson

Fifth Estate

A national approach to affordable housing through net zero tram corridors
Could trams and tighter planning make housing more affordable? Europe says yes. Peter Newman

Urban Developer (partly free)

NSW Rezones Five High-Demand Precincts
A power station, a NSW South Coast beach precinct and pockets of Sydney will be rezoned by the NSW State Government to make way for 7800 new homes. Renee McKeown
 
Stockland Plots $3.5bn Logistics Revamp of Sydney Golf Club
The rezoning of a 97-year-old golf club has led the way for a $3.5-billion logistics precinct. Clare Burnett

If you want to get the very latest information – including links to stories about houses and commercial properties, from pay-walled sources as well as freebies –   go to this link, type in your email address and you will get a full summary of the latest property related news delivered to your inbox every day.