WHETHER YOU’RE JUST starting to search for a house or you already have a solid understanding of the world of property, it’s always useful to keep in the loop of any changes in real estate.

There’s been plenty of change afoot this week, from plans to penalise owners of vacant homes to one very unusual Airbnb listing in the US of A.

Here’s what you might have missed…

1. Most people on housing benefits still can’t afford rent

Shutterstock / Bennian Shutterstock / Bennian / Bennian

A study of the rental sector has found that state housing benefits aren’t helping people get access to the rent market, with 91% of properties beyond the reach of those on rent supplement.

The Simon Community study found that the majority of properties available to rent aren’t attainable for people dependent on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

2. Landlords resist plans to penalise for vacant properties

Mark Stedman Mark Stedman

New plans to penalise owners of vacant properties have been met with resistance from landlord groups, with one organisation warning the Government to be “very cautious and wary” about interference in the sector.

The Irish Property Owners’ Association (IPOA) said it had a growing concern with the Government’s plans to tackle housing issues, including its measures for dealing with vacant homes.

3. Concerns over rent solution involving elderly

Mark Stedman Mark Stedman

Concerns have been raised over new government proposals to help alleviate the current housing crisis, which would see elderly people in nursing homes renting out their properties.

The housing department announced a number of measures it would attempt to use to provide more homes in the State, and identified vacant properties as an area worth exploring further.

4. Donald Trump’s childhood home shows up on Airbnb

AirBnb AirBnb

THOSE LOOKING TO savour US presidential history first-hand are being invited to rent Donald Trump’s childhood home at €636-a-night on Airbnb, complete with a giant presidential cut-out in the living room.

The $2 million, mock Tudor-style family home in Queens, where the New York tycoon turned Republican commander-in-chief lived for the first four years of his life, sleeps up to 20 people in five bedrooms.

5. Wicklow wind farm developer sues protesters

Flickr Flickr

Protesters against a Wicklow-based wind farm were putting themselves in danger in a bid to prevent the laying of cables connected to the development, the High Court heard.

Ballycumber Wind Farm Limited, the developer of the project in Wicklow, has launched court proceedings against the protesters who are interfering with works designed to connect the project to the national electricity grid.