Real Estate

A series of earthquakes, including one measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, struck Taiwan's east coast starting Monday night, causing buildings to shake in the capital Taipei but resulting in no reported casualties. This follows a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on April 3rd that claimed the lives of at least 14 people in the same region.

A man who lived in an apartment in Tokyo owned by a foreign national was shocked to be informed by a tax inspector that he owed hefty back taxes due to a withholding failure. With an increasing number of foreigners investing in Japanese real estate, national tax authorities are investigating cases of tax omissions, putting many renters in a similar predicament.

The Victorian government plans to build over 70,000 new homes around six Suburban Rail Loop precincts in Melbourne's east by the 2050s, aiming to address housing needs and promote sustainable development. The project involves densification with taller buildings near stations and more townhouses and mid-rise apartments near existing homes, sparking concerns from the opposition about financial viability and community impact.

A homelessness charity in Launceston, Tasmania purchased sleeping pods to provide temporary housing for those in need, but faces obstacles in finding a suitable location to deploy them. Despite efforts to work with the council and provide detailed proposals including risk assessments, the project remains at a standstill, leaving the pods unused as the winter approaches.

Macquarie Builders Pty Ltd, a leading Tasmanian construction company, has been fined $115,000 following a workplace incident that left an employee with severe physical and psychological injuries. The incident occurred on April 24, 2019, at a construction site for public toilets and change rooms at Kingston Beach.