Promoting best practice in the private rooming house sector

Membership Benefits

Membership entitles you to vote at RAAV's Annual General Meeting, stand for RAAV's Committee and receive RAAV's package of assistance. Associate membership is also available for persons considering commencing a rooming house.

RAAV's suite of services to members includes:

• Promoting rooming house "Best Practice" to raise the standards and image of the private rooming house sector;
• Providing a forum for rooming house operators and represent the views of members to Government;
• Contributing to the Government's policy initiatives and producing submissions on matters affecting the rooming house sector;
• Liaison with key stakeholders;
• Creating a respected private Rooming House sector.
• Providing other services to members including:
  • Being a central reference communication base on key issues that impact on private rooming houses;
  • Provide information on "Best Practice" and Government legislation
  • Conduct regular forums and information sessions;
  • Participate in Government forums;
  • Access to an interactive website with links to information on legislation, VCAT, Tenancy, Building, Business systems, case studies and assistance with services such as insurance;
  • Information about special rates for products and services with related businesses, e.g. insurance for rooming houses;
  • Regular newsletters on key matters impacting on private rooming houses.

RAAV's Committee meets regularly to provide programs and develop policies for representation to Government and Local Government. RAAV's members contribute to these important functions for improving rooming house operations.

RAAV does not provide legal advice or undertake consultancy in relation to individual rooming houses.

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RAAV'S Core Activities

• Make RAAV members and the rooming house sector aware of the legislative requirements as promulgated by the Victorian Government in operating registered accommodation;
• Promote Best Practice that raises the standards and image of privately owned and operated registered accommodation;
• Provide a regular forum for members to network with rooming house stakeholders and rooming house operators;
• Distribute information from Government and Local Government in operating rooming houses.
• Liaise with government and prepare submissions to proposed legislation.

Changes to Residential Tenancies (Rooming House Standards) Regulations 2022-

All rooming house operators should have now received notification from CAV concerning the proposed changes to Rooming House Standards that will occur from 27th February 2023 - "Have your say – Rooming House Minimum Standards Regulations public consultation" .

A final submission based on "Have your say – Rooming House Minimum Standards Regulations public consultation"  is at the following link.

RAAV submission to the changes to Minimum Standards 30_1_2023.pdf

RAAV has lodged their submission in response to the latest list of changes to the minimum standards and although we don't disagree with some of them, we will put up arguments as to why a number of the changes should not occur. 

 It is important that all Rooming House Operators also send in their response and complete the online survey, Details of both can be found at  Engage Victoria website.

Ross McKenry

CEO RAAV

Running a Better Rooming House: A best practice handbook for operators

RAAV has produced a fourth edition of the rooming house Best Practice Handbook which was distributed to all RAAV members. It is also available on line in the Members section of this website or by requesting a copy from RAAV.

Key rooming house operators and stakeholders have contributed to this new edition which includes special material on student accommodation, fire safety, dealing with mental illness, crime in rooming houses, as well as additional information on the existing material.

The Handbook has been welcomed as an easy-to-read 36 page publication which provides information and tips on operating a better rooming house.

The fourth edition of the Handbook contains the new Standards which were introduced 1n 2013 together with best practice tips for all the Standards. The Handbook also includes more information about health issues in rooming houses, safety and fire checks, international students in rooming houses, more about house rules, hoarding in rooming houses and tips from the police when dealing with aggressive behaviour.

The handbook also includes previous information about handling disputes, getting along with neighbours, the business of running a rooming house, developing a business plan (including a SWOT analysis), controlling maintenance costs and selecting and maintaining managers and residents.

The Handbook has been compiled from extensive research with rooming house operators and stakeholders and contains:

1. Understanding rooming houses
2. The business of running a rooming house
3. Establishing a rooming house
4. Rooming House Agreements
5. Meeting your obligations
6. Selecting and maintaining manager and residents
7. Student accommodation in rooming houses
8. Day to day management
9. Handling disputes
10. Helping residents access support services
11. Useful contacts

The purpose of the Handbook is to:

• help you improve your rooming house operations
• encourage you to review your social and legal obligations
• raise standards within the private rooming house sector
• provide an incentive to increase the number of registered rooming houses in Victoria.

Running a better rooming house: Your Obligations as an operator - Chinese; Vietnamese; Hindi

In addition to the new English version of Running a better rooming house: Your Obligations as an operator, which is available to members in Programs of the Members section, RAAV has now produced this very useful manual in Chinese, Vietnamese and Hindi.

更好地经营分租房： 经营者义务 

बेहतर रूम िंग हाउस चलाना: रूम िंग हाउस ऑपरेटर (सिंचालक) के रूप ेंआपकेदामित 

Điều hành nhà trọ tập thể tốt hơn: Các bổn phận của quý vị với tư cách người điều hành 

These are available now.