Retirement Housing Advice Service
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 Residential Park unit so they can finally move. The couple… …
Posted in: Client Stories, Residential Parks, Retirement Housing
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… …
Posted in: Reports
Call to Action on Residential Tenancies Reforms
We are calling on our members to contact their members about the Residential Tenancies Act. …
Posted in: News Updates
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… …
Posted in: Media Releases
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 …
Posted in: Parity Articles
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… …
Posted in: Multicultural & Multifaith Communities, Parity Articles, Campaigns
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… …
Posted in: Media Releases
Retirement Housing – Making your Complaint Count Forum
We held a well-attended and lively forum on Monday 14th May, attended by almost 60 residents of retirement housing, on how best to “make a complaint to the regulator”. The meeting heard from Consumer Affairs Victoria about their role as regulator and enforcement of retirement legislation and dispute resolution, followed by Consumer Action Law Centre… …
Posted in: Galleries, Retirement Housing, Campaigns, Victoria
Contract terminated carelessly
Diane* had been her father Joe’s live-in carer at the retirement village for two years before he passed away. She was the main beneficiary of his estate and the executor of his will. Since she’d inherited the unit, which was his main asset, and was herself in her 60’s, she expected to be able to… …
Posted in: Client Stories, Retirement Housing, Retirement Villages
Submission: Retirement Living Council Retirement Living Code of Conduct
This written submission is provided by Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), Residents of Retirement Villages Victoria (RRVV), Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) and COTA Victoria (COTA Vic). The need to address widespread problems in the retirement housing industry is long overdue. We welcome industry efforts to better protect and promote the rights… …
Posted in: Submissions
HAAG Communique- a response to the Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector
Since its announcement in February 2016, HAAG members have been contributing to the Victorian Parliament’s Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector. HAAG members were also involved in campaigning for the inquiry itself, so much work has gone into this area of policy development. HAAG’s extensive submissions to the inquiry were based on the work and… …
Posted in: Media Releases
Letter Writing and Working Group Introduction
Want to see more affordable housing options for older people, better regulations and clearer rights for retirement housing residents? Come to our letter writing session and meet others with similar interests in our working groups. Tuesday the 9th of Jan@11am. HAAG offices. …
Posted in: Events, Retirement Housing, Campaigns, Take Action, Victoria