AOIFE Cooke is making sure independent living units, or ILUs, are well in the picture when the Legislative Council’s inquiry into the retirement housing sector reports early next year.

The project worker with Housing for the Aged Action Group has written a report for the inquiry, for which she interviewed residents in Melbourne’s north and the Grampians region.

Launched on July 26, it is titled Independent Voices: Collecting and recording the experiences of residents of Independent Living Units in Victoria.

The inquiry’s terms of reference include making recommendations for reform of retirement housing legislation, ensuring it reflects the diversity of retirement housing types.

Also known as not-for-profit retirement villages, ILUs are generally groups of cottages in a village environment in neighbourhoods with good amenities.

Ms Cooke said very little information had been gathered about the experience of residents over decades. “Nobody’s really done this since ILUs were first built in the 1950s,” she said.

“The Retirement Villages Act doesn’t really account for not-for-profits. Legislation surrounding them is vague and will be reviewed by this Inquiry.

“There has been a mix of feedback – many are very happy, but it’s not everyone’s experience.

Ms Cooke said security of tenure was a “huge” issue, and there had been many reports of dealings with management where residents’ dignity was not respected.

“I’ve found the most significant issues for residents are about fundamental housing justice.”

One village she visited in Melbourne’s north was home to 20 residents who had received an eviction letter a few months previously.

The man in his mid-80s who heads the residents’ committee told her he was “dealing with 20 people with post-traumatic stress”.

Another resident remarked that “it’s the not knowing that causes all the stress.”

Maintenance was also a concern. Issues, including safety hazards, were reported by interviewees, which were ignored by management. “Many people tell me when they hit problems, they are not dealt with,” Ms Cooke said.

“They don’t have anywhere to go – VCAT (the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) is not a desirable option, and the fear of speaking out is prevalent.

Another of the inquiry’s terms of reference is to consider appointing a retirement housing ombudsman. Ms Cooke said this would provide a more accessible, non-adversarial way for residents to resolve complaints.

By Simon Garner

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