Carmel McMennemin was a longtime member of HAAG who sadly passed away a few weeks ago, and on today's show we celebrate her memory and the values she spent her life fighting for.
Wantirna Caravan Park has around 200 residents, many of them older people, who have been told the park will close after a developer built the land. Now those residents face eviction, but they're not taking it lying down. Guest host Aoife Cooke brings us audio from a recent meeting organised by the residents to demand better treatment and protection for themselves and other park residents.
A detailed new survey of Australian renters has confirmed what HAAG has always said – that the private rental market lacks security and that tenants put up with substandard conditions for fear of eviction if they complain. As the Andrews government considers its options for the ongoing Residential Tenancies Act review, we hope they will take this on amid the growing evidence that we need to radically revamp rental laws to make sure that everyone can enjoy a safe and secure home.
Shane McGrath, HAAGs Tenancy worker spoke on ABC 774 on 2nd March regarding long-term leases. A summary of HAAGs position on the issue is below:
Longer leases are one important step to improve security of tenure for older renters and it’s encouraging that the government is working on this
Longer leases in themselves do not improve security of tenure, so it’s important to see the details of the plan before we get too excited
We continue to call on the government to abolish no-reason notices to vacate and build more public housing to provide real improvements in security of tenure for older renters
The first survey of Australian renters has been carried out and the results tell a pretty grim story for the growing number of renters out there. You've heard HAAG harp about this for years, now finally it's backed up by an independant study, one that has been getting a lot of attention.
Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) is appalled at reports that the Turnbull government plans to axe the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) in the May 2017 budget. This agreement between Federal and State governments provides the only Commonwealth funding for housing and homelessness services...
The state government's review of Victorian rental laws is coming to a close after over a year of consultation. They recently released an options paper setting out some ideas they're considering for reform. I talked to Tenants Union policy officer Yaelle Caspi about the options paper - is it good or bad? What will it mean for older renters?
WANTIRNA Caravan Park evictees have told of the financial stress they are under, with one man standing to lose $170,000 on the unit he is now trying to sell...
The Conversation - Alan Morris -12th December 2016
The average housing costs of older (65-plus) outright homeowners in lone-person households were A$38 a week in 2013-14, the Australian Bureau of Statistics calculated, compared to $103 for older social housing tenants and $232 for older private renters.
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."