News

We've organised an informal RAAV networking event to meet other members and hear the latest updates on what's happened in the rooming house industry since our AGM.

Light snacks will be provided and drinks will be available for purchase at bar prices - check your email for details and book before 5pm Friday 20 March

Some people missed out in January, so RAAV will be repeating those Zoom sessions in March as well as presenting some new ones. Live sessions give you a chance to chat with other Operators, ask questions and get feedback. Details of the sessions and how to book can be found in the Members only section here

Check your email to read about new training available and the latest updates. Remember that past newsletters are available on our website here.

Starting 15 January, RAAV will be presenting Zoom training sessions on topics of interest to members and give you a chance to chat with other Operators. Details of the sessions and how to book can be found in the Members only section here

From 1 December 2025:

• new rental minimum standard - blind and cord safety anchors on all internal window coverings
• new rooming house minimum standard - all rooming house providers must install a fixed heater secured to a wall, floor or ceiling of each resident's room

More information about the new minimum standards is on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.

• a ban on no-fault evictions (not applicable to rooming houses)
• extension of notice periods for rent increases for rent increases and certain notices to vacate from 60 to 90 days
• a ban on all types of rental bidding
• rental properties must meet minimum standards at the time they're advertised
• mandatory annual smoke alarm safety checks for all rental properties
• new rules to protect renters' personal information.

More information about the new rental laws is on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.

Other changes will now come into effect on 31 March 2026:

• a new standard form for rental applications
• rules for information that can be asked of rental applicants 
• a ban on third party fees for rental applications and rent payments
• additional considerations for rent increase investigations. 

The AGM and Trade Day was held at the Amora Riverwalk hotel in Bridge Road Richmond on 11 October. The AGM was followed by a light lunch and the Trade Day in the afternoon in the large Event area. Speakers included Alison Hocking from CAV, Andrew Hosken from SRO and Robert Hendrey from Hendrey Consulting, a commercial valuer specialising in rooming houses.

More information, including reports, presentations and photos can be found here

In response to the call by Consumer Affairs to make submissions on the new change to the rooming house minimum standards on heating, RAAV have made the following submission. RAAV have also been meeting with the Department of Government Services, a department of CAV, to fully understand the implications of the change to the minimum standard and ensuring that RAAV's view of the matter is understood.

It is also important that members of RAAV make their own submissions before the 1st July.

RAAV submission to the heating minimum standards

Already available to members are six on-line modules based on the content of "Running a better rooming house: A best practice handbook for operators". This handbook is available on the website in the Resources section of the members area under RAAV publications or by mail out to members by emailing info@raav.org.au. The first two modules are available to all to access in the Courses section of the website. The remaining four are only available to members.

We now have the second series of on-line training modules available to members based on the on-line handbook "Running a better rooming house: Your obligations". These five modules are also to be found in the Courses section of the members area.