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.
Melbourne, July 15: Land lease communities need better regulation to protect older people from mistreatment, according to Housing for the Aged Action Group.
Today a story published by the ABC highlighted problematic deferred management fees charged by some land lease communities or residential parks. These often-exorbitant fees make it extremely difficult for older people who have purchased properties in these communities to leave.
Housing for the Aged Action Group's Home at Last service is the first point of call of many older women living in Victoria who find themselves on the brink of, or experiencing, homelessness.
The power imbalance between tenant and landlord in Australia in 2024 is well known. But for people living in retirement housing there is often an even greater power imbalance between them and their housing provider.
Marie Sillars and Wendy Morris from the National Alliance of Seniors for Housing, and Susan Hawkeswood from the Ageing on the Edge NSW Lived Experience Group.
As Australia's housing crisis has worsened, a diverse group of older people from across the nation has come together with a common goal. By speaking about their own experiences of this crisis they hope to build an awareness of how it impacts people as they grow older, and to add their voices to those calling for a fairer housing system, one which ensures everyone living in Australia has access to a safe, stable, accessible and affordable home.
Fiona and Shane speak to Julijana Todorovic from Labor for Housing, about how rank and file members of the ALP are trying to improve Labor's housing policy. To find out more, go to their facebook page Labor for Housing
Currently, the private rental sector does not provide security of tenure, affordability or accessibility for older low-income households. For renting in retirement to be as secure as home ownership, it requires proper regulation and legislative reform to enable older people to age in place, in the communities that they are familiar with and close to their social networks.
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."