This World Homelessness Day 2019, homelessness workers from around Victoria are smashing myths, and revealing #HomelessTruths. ​Homelessness is at crisis level in Victoria due to a lack of affordable housing. ​The Victorian Government must build more social housing so that people on low incomes aren’t forced into homelessness. ​Myths about homelessness put the blame on individuals instead of on the systemic drivers of homelessness. Myth 1: Most people become homeless because of drug and alcohol

Tenants Victoria has joined with 60 other groups across Australia to call on Australian Building Ministers to raise energy efficiency standards in the National Construction Code. This follows years of advocacy around energy efficient through the Make Renting Fair Campaign and the One Million Homes Alliance. Necessary reforms include: · Mandating minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes · Developing programs to improve the energy efficiency of all public and community housing properties · Committing

Victoria’s specialist tenancy advice service, Tenants Victoria, has raised significant issues as part of the Victorian Government’s review of pool and spa safety laws. The review proposes new local council registration requirements, more inspections and safety modifications. The biggest issue identified was the widespread use of temporary pools during summer. Existing law requires all pools and spas to have safety barriers such as fencing and gates that comply with building regulations. This means that even

In a recent case that went to VCAT, the tenants argued against a clause the landlord included in their lease (tenancy agreement). The landlord was attempting to make it the tenants’ responsibility to pay some of the landlord’s taxes and council charges. But according to the law – Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic) – when it comes to property costs, the only things tenants have to pay for other than rent are the charges for

When the landlord wants to sell, they usually want to take photos inside your rented home. But do you have to let them in? VCAT says no. A recent case at VCAT dismissed a landlord’s compensation claim and noted that landlords do not have the right to enter a rented home for the purpose of taking photos. The landlord was claiming compensation for the photographer’s fee because the tenants did not let them in. The