Retirement Housing

Not for Sale

Mr and Mrs Jenner* are a couple in their mid 70s who moved from a rural area to Melbourne four years ago to access specialised medical treatment, and wanted to move back closer to family. Since June 2016 they have been trying to sell their moveable unit so they can finally move. The couple asked the park owner sell their unit.

Retirement Housing Day of Action

17 May 2019

HAAG are hosting a ‘Day of Action’ and we would like anyone living in Retirement Housing to be involved.

Out of the frying pan into the fire: The experiences of Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) clients referred to Independent Living Units (ILU) and general retirement information.

While there has been research into the experience of people living in ILUs (HAAG, 2016), there is limited knowledge of the experience of people attempting to gain access to them. It may be inferred however that access is problematic; waitlists are generally years in length, there area large numbers of low-income pensioners in the private rental market, and there are low numbers of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) aged living in them (HAAG, 2016). Obtaining up to date and transparent information about ILUs and other retirement villages is also challenging.

This report looks at whether HAAG clients who are given information about ILUs actually obtain housing in ILUs, and explores some of the structural reasons behind this.

For more of the report click here

Including Retirement Housing in the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

This joint letter to the PM and the Minister for Consumer Affairs asks them to extend the terms of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety to cover Retirement Villages.

Call to Action on Residential Tenancies Reforms

We are calling on our members to contact their members about the Residential Tenancies Act.

Rental Reforms a Win for Older Residents

Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) has welcomed proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (RTA) that bring stronger protection for older renters in caravan park and residential parks. In recent years, hundreds of home owners across Victoria who thought they had security in retirement have found themselves suddenly facing homelessness as developers closed the parks in which they lived. Under the proposed reforms, residents will be able to access compensation if their parks close down and they are forced to move.

Independent Living Units: Underfunded and Misunderstood

A summary of the changing Independent Living Unit sector, written by one of HAAG's retirement housing workers Fiona Waters

Read the report here

Responding to Older Persons Homelessness: What Works

HAAG published several articles as part of the June 2018 edition of Parity Journal.

Ageing on the Edge Older Persons Homelessness Prevention Project. Jeff Fiedler and Debbie Fawkner
Public Housing Redevelopments Impact Older Persons’ Health and Wellbeing Tegan Leeder
Housing Related Challenges for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities Gemma White
Independent Living Units: Underfunded and Misunderstood Fiona Waters

Finally! Ombudsman promise a win for residents.

“Our members have been calling for an Ombudsman for the Retirement Housing industry for years,” said HAAG Chair Phyll Williams. “At the moment, older residents struggle to resolve disputes with their managers in quickly, cheaply and fairly. An ombudsman is sorely needed by many residents of retirement housing.” Ms Williams called on the Andrews government to match the LNP’s commitment. “Now that the Greens and the LNP have expressed support for an Ombudsman, its time for Labor to make it unanimous. Proper protections for older Victorians should not be a partisan issue,” she said.