Four corners ran a fantastic episode last night on dodgy retirement housing opporator AVEO, and other articles have recently been published that expose many of the problems residents of retirement housing have been facing for a long time – complicated contracts, unfair fees and issues with management. Unfortunately, these are not isolated problems with one operator, they occur across the whole of the retirement housing industry, and we must continnue to push for reform.

This is the first time retirement housing has been so predominant in the public eye and it is important that this opportunity is realised. Residents and other stakeholders need to ensure the government responds appropriately to the needs of residents by taking action on the Inquiry recommendations to provide significant reform and improved protections within the retirement housing sector.

The Victorian Government has a unique opportunity to improve the retirement housing sector and make it fair for residents. The recent Parliamentary Inquiry into Retirement Housing proposed a number of recommendations which, if implemented, would go a long way to repairing the issues in this sector, Residents rights will not be adequate until the legislation is improved, providing more thorough regulation.

Housing for the Aged Action Group urges the government to adopt these recommendations and act now to protect retirement housing residents.

See our full Media Release here

For further comment: Shanny Gordon, Retirement Housing Worker 03 9654 7389 shanny.gordon@oldertenants.org.au