Joseph lives in a small retirement village in a regional area. Although some residents have paid ingoings up to $85,000, the village largely caters to people on pensions with little or no savings. Many, including Joseph, didn’t pay any upfront fee and simply rent their units month to month.
Housing for the Aged Action Group calls the government’s Retirement Villages Act Amendments Bill, released today after a five-year consultation period, a “mixed bag” that includes important improvements for residents but leaves some major areas of concern inadequately addressed.
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 Survey opened 11 October 2024
Duration: 10-15 minutes
For: former, current and prospective residential park residents, residents’ families, and on-site and off-site park managers in Victoria
Purpose: findings will inform a comprehensive report to be published and considered by the Victorian Government
A series of stories published by the ABC this week highlighted unfair fees, confusing contracts and poor treatment of residents living in retirement villages. Government must act now to protect retirement village residents from exploitation and eviction.
What's going on in Residential Parks?
25 Sep 2024
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
An independent, online information session about the retirement housing sector in Victoria. It can be complex to navigate, and this session helps people to understand the pros and cons of different housing types, including retirement villages, residential parks, lifestyle villages, rental villages, and independent living units. The session will also cover where you can go for assistance if you are a retirement housing resident who needs support, information or advice.
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.
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."