Victorian Campaign Updates

Based in Melbourne, HAAG campaigns for real investment in Public and Community Housing, better regulation of retirement and private rental housing, and better support for older people to be able to access safe, secure and affordable housing across the state.

Action Updates

Not just unfair, unlawful: VCAT rules against village charging Deferred Management Fees

Housing for the Aged Action Group welcomes VCAT's decision which found that the Residential Tenancies Act prevented a land lease village from charging Deferred Management Fees (DMFs). DMFs are a common kind of exit fee charged across several types of retirement housing, often costing departing residents or their families tens of thousands of dollars or more.

Consultation on the proposed community housing development for women and children in Rosebud

Housing for the Aged Action Group strongly supports the Council’s proposal to lease land for community housing in Rosebud. We commend Mornington Peninsula Shire for its vision to provide safe, stable, and affordable medium-term housing for low-income women and their children, as well as women aged 55 and over at risk of homelessness. Community housing provides vital affordable and stable housing that older people desperately need.

Read our submission here

Victorian Retirement laws finally pass

Housing for the Aged Action Group welcomes the passing of new Retirement laws after a five year consultation period and many more years of advocacy from residents. The new laws include significant changes that will improve the day-to-day life of residents, such as a mandatory code of conduct for operators, standardized contracts for new residents, limits on renovation costs, fairer rules about allocating capital gain, and greater transparency and clarity about fees. 

Providing evidence at the Inquiry into the Supply of Homes in Regional Victoria

We provided evidence to the Inquiry that,  increasing numbers of older people in regional Victoria do not own their own homes and they find themselves facing the real and frightening prospect of homelessness in older age. Older people in regional Victoria are facing a significant and growing housing crisis that has serious impacts on their health and
wellbeing, and this limits their ability to access aged care supports – it is very difficult to be able to access in-home care if you do not have a stable house. We desperately need more homes for low-income older Victorians and the best way to do that is by investing in public and community housing and low-cost retirement housing. 

Read the full transcript of evidence here

Joint submission to the Inquiry into the redevelopment of Melbourne’s public housing towers

Our joint submission alongside a wide range of community and legal organisations calls on the inquiry to recognise these shared principles, respecting the rights of Public Housing tower residents!

Read our joint submission

Pages