Security of tenure for the ageing population in Western Australia Does current housing legislation support Seniors’ ongoing housing needs?

The genesis of this research commenced several years ago as the impact of Western Australia’s ‘resources boom’ was becoming evident. . Although that period augured in years of prosperity for some Western Australians, for many – especially those on lower and fixed incomes – the rising cost of living became problematic. In the case of housing the problem was particularly acute; housing and rental prices soared and many people who, for example, had rented in the private market for many years found themselves unable to afford to stay in their homes or meet rising rental costs. The study examines security of tenure for the ageing population in Western Australia and considers whether current housing legislation supports seniors’ on-going housing needs. The context for this research is the ageing Western Australian population and the consequent economic and social implications for the housing needs of Western Australian seniors. ‘Housing needs’ is a broad and somewhat nebulous term and encompasses a diversity of potential components. For the purposes of this research, however, it is acknowledged that the most important of these is the need for stable and secure accommodation on a continuing basis- considerations directly relevant to the notion of security of tenure.