Residential Parks
Supreme Court decision on residential park DMFs
Deferred Management Fees (DMFs) are common in many residential parks, but recent VCAT and Supreme Court decisions could mean big changes to the ways they are charged across the state. This may have an impact on you if you’ve either paid a DMF in a residential park, or have a contract that requires you to… …
Posted in: News Updates, Retirement Housing, Campaigns
Improvements for residential parks and older renters
The Victorian government just passed its Consumer Legislation Amendments bill, including some important reforms for renters and, especially, residential park residents …
Posted in: News Updates, Renter's rights, Retirement Housing, Campaigns
“Happy for us” – Ingenia Gardens win
Shane and Fiona talk to Sue, a resident of Ingenia Gardens about the recent fine they receivied for not providing proper kitchens. She talks about the pros and cons about living in rental villages, and what the win means for residents. Shane goes into detail about the decision of Consumer Affairs Victoria, and what it… …
Posted in: Podcasts, Retirement Housing, Campaigns, Victoria
Residential parks survey now open!
The Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC), in partnership with the Commissioner for Residential Tenancies, aim to research the issues faced by tenants in residential parks by engaging with residents, industry experts, housing professionals, and community organisations. A key part of the project includes surveys for residents and operators to identify their challenges. Residential Park… …
Posted in: News Updates, Retirement Housing, Campaigns, Victoria
What's going on in Residential Parks?
Shane and Fiona speak to Erin Turner, CEO of Consumer Policy Research Centre about their new research in partnership witht he Office of the Residential Tenancies Commissioner, focussing on residential parks.You can find out more and participate in the research by going to their website www.cprc.org.au …
Posted in: Podcasts, Retirement Housing
Fairer fees for residential parks?
Fiona and Shane talk to Steve, a resident from Lifestyle Communities involved in an upcoming VCAT case challenging some of the fees charged to residents. …
Posted in: Podcasts, Retirement Housing
Residential Parks Roundtable Report Back
In August, HAAG and the Office of the Commissioner for Residential Tenancies co-hosted a roundtable for residential park residents. We wanted to bring residents from many different parks together to compare their experiences and see what is working and what isn’t for them, and what issues do they have in common. …
Posted in: News Updates, Retirement Housing, Campaigns, Victoria
Manufacturing Dissent?
On today’s show, Shane talks to Judy Duff, a HAAG member and Chair of the Manufactured Home Owners Association of Victoria, an organisation of and for residential park residents. They talk about the group’s history and aims, the big issues residents face, and the recent Roundtable co-organised by HAAG and the Commissioner for Residential Tenancies.… …
Posted in: Podcasts, Retirement Housing
Working groups, forums and roundtables
With Fiona away, Shane invites, er, Fiona to talk about the importance of older people leading their own struggles for housing justice. We talk about some of the ways HAAG tries to facilitate this, including our ongoing action and reference groups, and the upcoming Residential Parks Roundtable we’re co-organising with the Office of the Commissioner… …
Posted in: Podcasts, Retirement Housing, Membership
Residential Parks Roundtable
Do you live in a residential park in Victoria? We want to hear from you! What needs to change to make residential parks work better for older renters? This will be an opportunity for the Commissioner for Residential Tenancies and other policy-makers to hear directly from residents about the good and bad in this type… …
Posted in: Events, Retirement Housing, Campaigns, Victoria
Essential Services Commission seeks feedback on Embedded Electricity Networks
The Essential Services Commission has released an Electricity Distribution Code Review issues paper requesting feedback on the questions put forward about the rights, responsibilities, services and protections offered to people by their electricity providers and distributors. Many people who get in touch with HAAG’s Retirement Housing Advice Service are residents of retirement housing options such… …
Posted in: News Updates, Caravan Parks, Independent Living Units, Retirement Housing, Retirement Villages, Retirement Housing Advice Service
Out of Order
Mr and Mrs Armstrong* live in a for-profit retirement residential park (aka ‘lifestyle’ village) located in a rural area outside of Melbourne. Mr Armstrong called up for assistance in requesting that village management complete repairs to their property. He explained that over 6 months earlier, workers hired by management had backed a waste truck into… …
Posted in: Client Stories, Retirement Housing, Retirement Housing Advice Service