Retirement Housing Advice Service
Response to the Regulatory Impact Statement for the proposed Residential Tenancies Regulations 2020
Older renters are a key demographic when it comes to rental reform. People over 55 make up the fastest growing segment of the private rental market, a major and growing proportion of social housing tenants, and a key cohort for caravan and residential parks. The government has recognised the needs of older renters as a… …
Posted in: Submissions
Residential Tenancies Act – Regulations – Submission Dec 2019
Housing for the Aged Action Group submission in response to the Regulatory Impact Statement for the proposed Residential Tenancies Regulations 2020 Download …
Posted in: Submissions, Tenancy
Maryanne’s Deferred Management Fee Nightmare
Maryanne (not her real name) lived happily in a retirement village for over ten years. She was in her mid 80s when construction work in a common area above her unit disrupted a drain above her library, causing serious flooding during heavy rain. Over the months this problem persisted, Maryanne’s physical and mental health both… …
Posted in: Client Stories, Retirement Housing, Retirement Villages
Response to the ‘Review of the Retirement Villages Act 1986’ Issues Paper
This joint submission with Consumer Action Law Center focuses on five key areas that have emerged as central to retirement village reform in our casework and in feedback from our members: resident rights, contractual complexity, unfair fees, management standards, and dispute resolution. The case study illustrates the ways these issues are connected and compound each… …
Posted in: Submissions
Retirement Villages Act Review – residents meeting
The Retirement Villages Act is under review. We are holding a meeting of residents to discuss HAAG’s submission and assist people to make their own submission if they want to. When: Thursday 14 November 2019 from 10.00am-12.00 Where: HAAG office, Level 1 247-251 Flinders Lane Melbourne 3000 …
Posted in: Events, Retirement Housing, Campaigns, Victoria
Afternoon tea: Improving Consumer Decision-making about Retirement Housing
Are you aged 50 years or older? Do you live in Victoria? Do you currently live in a Retirement Village? If so, you’re invited to an afternoon tea to hear about some new independent research by the University of Melbourne to find out what information people use to help them decide to move into a… …
Posted in: Events
Submission to Electricity Distribution Code Review
This submission is based on the experiences of our members and clients living in retirement housing, who have embedded networks in their villages. Read the submission here …
Posted in: Submissions
Essential Services Commission seeks feedback on Embedded Electricity Networks
The Essential Services Commission has released an Electricity Distribution Code Review issues paper requesting feedback on the questions put forward about the rights, responsibilities, services and protections offered to people by their electricity providers and distributors. Many people who get in touch with HAAG’s Retirement Housing Advice Service are residents of retirement housing options such… …
Posted in: News Updates, Caravan Parks, Independent Living Units, Residential Parks, Retirement Housing, Retirement Villages
Jimmy’s Caravan
Jimmy is in his 80’s. He lived in a rundown caravan park for 30 years in a freezing/boiling caravan, traipsing to the communal toilet every night, until finally being forced out when the park was being ‘upgraded’ to ‘boutique living‘. While HAAG’s Retirement Housing team was working with residents to make sure there rights were… …
Posted in: Client Stories, Caravan Parks, Housing Support
Fear of Committee-ment
Shane and Pam chat with Fiona Waters, one of HAAG’s retirement housing workers, about how to start a residents committee and how they can assist residents of retirment housing to assert their rights. …
Posted in: Podcasts, Retirement Housing
Retirement Housing Day of Action
On 17 May 2019, residents of retirement villages, rental villages, independent living units and caravan parks from across Melbourne came together to discuss their issues living in retirement housing. Issues included bullying and lack of respect by village managers, repairs and maintenance, frustration with selling units, inconsistent contracts. Thanks to everyone who sent in their… …
Posted in: Retiremement Accomodation Action Group, Galleries, Retirement Housing, Campaigns, Victoria
Out of Order
Mr and Mrs Armstrong* live in a for-profit retirement residential park (aka ‘lifestyle’ village) located in a rural area outside of Melbourne. Mr Armstrong called up for assistance in requesting that village management complete repairs to their property. He explained that over 6 months earlier, workers hired by management had backed a waste truck into… …
Posted in: Client Stories, Residential Parks, Retirement Housing