Retirement village residents call for big legal changes

As you might have read back in March, a parliamentary committee has recommended the Victorian Government make sweeping changes to the laws surrounding retirement villages.

In response to the recommendations, retirement village residents and experts have gathered for a retirement housing forum in Victoria and they’re putting more pressure on the Victorian Government to make some changes.

Residents at the forum were addressed by experts from the Consumer Law Centre, Council on the Ageing, Residents of Retirement Villages Victoria and Housing for the Aged Action Group.

The forum identified five areas of concern they want the Victorian Government to address:

• The need for an alternative dispute resolution process, such as a Retirement Housing Ombudsman
• Appropriate training for retirement village managers
• A process of accreditation for retirement housing operators
• A review of the Retirement Villages Act 1986
• Clarification of deferred management fees and clearer contracts

Housing for the Aged Action Group co-manager Fiona York said the forum was a great opportunity for residents to work together to make the recommendations are adopted by the Victorian Government.

“We know from our years of action that we are more powerful when we work together, and it was great to see so many people attend to express their concerns, prioritise them and plan for the best way to influence change to improve the lives of residents of retirement housing,” she said.

Residents and advocacy groups such as HAAG are hoping the government will swiftly make the reforms a reality and address the concerns of retirement village residents across the state.

Do you agree with what the residents are calling for? Is it time for the government to make changes?