“DISAPPOINTING” is how village residents have described the Victorian government’s response to a legislative council inquiry into the retirement housing sector.
The government has supported a number of recommendations in full or in part.
The inquiry’s recommendation for mandatory accreditation for all retirement housing providers is under review.
Accusing the government of procrastination, Residents of Retirement Villages Victoria spokesman Lawrie Robertson said, nowhere in the response was there convincing recognition of the need to give residents stronger rights and protections.
“Similarly, there is no clear recognition of the need to deal with the root cause of residents’ concerns about fees – unnecessarily complicated financial terms,” he said.
“The tone of the government’s response to the inquiry recommendation on mandatory accreditation suggests it remains unwilling to adopt a more active and forceful regulatory role. Rather it seems to favour industry self-regulation.”
Mr Robertson was also disappointed at the response to the recommendation on improving management training. “It has flick-passed the responsibility back to village owners and operators.”
However, he said the biggest disappointment was the failure to give unequivocal support to establishing a free, expert and timely dispute resolution service with the power to make binding resolutions, such as an ombudsman. The large number of resident submissions to the inquiry and calls for assistance to the residents’ body and help lines proved “the pressing need for reform”.
Mr Robertson said residents and their families would ultimately pay the price for the government’s procrastination.
Consumer Action Law Centre chief executive Gerard Brody supports the establishment of an ombudsman.
“If you’re an older Victorian and want to resolve a problem with your retirement living, it should be cheap, quick and accessible,” he said.
“Recent piecemeal inquiries by the Victorian Government into the sector have failed to reduce the complexity of contracts or improve outcomes for residents.
“We had hoped for a strong response from the government ... unfortunately, we were left disappointed.”
- www.parliament.vic.gov.au/committees search for inquiry into the retirement housing sector.
Among the submissions to receive government support in full are:
- A review the Retirement Villages Act 1986 to determine its effectiveness in providing consumer protection while allowing growth and innovation in the sector.
- Consumer Affairs Victoria to collate its online retirement villages information into a booklet for operators to provide to potential residents.
- The Retirement Villages Act define whose responsibility it is to pay for repairs and maintenance inside units and in communal areas and facilities.
- Deferred management fees applied on a pro rata basis.
- Villages to report on compliance with maintenance plans funded by resident maintenance charges.
