2022 RAAV AGM Presentations
Here are two of the presentations that our guest speakers delivered at the RAAV AGM today, Saturday 29th October.
RAAV arranges competitive insurance for rooming houses
RAAV has been actively negotiating competitive insurance rates for rooming houses for its members. If you are having difficulty obtaining insurance, join RAAV and as a member gain access to providers of insurance for rooming houses. See the link to Become a Member.
Details of the insurance provider can be found in the members only section of the website.
RAAV members can benefit from this very good insurance broker and also have the brokerage fee capped at $200.
Rooming House Residents Guide
Rooming house operators must give residents the Rooming House Residents Guide on or before the day they move in. The Rooming House Residents Guide here is a CAV document and can be used for this purpose
Minimum Standards
The rooming house - minimum standards document is provided by CAV and is a guide to the minimum standards. It is recommended by RAAV that most standards set by RAAV member rooming houses are higher than the minimum.
Fire Safety in Rooming Houses
An e-learning module for rooming house operators and residents
Victoria’s fire services have launched an online learning module to support older people and people with disabilities to plan for fire emergencies at home.
The new e-learning module, Prevent, Detect, Escape – Home Fire Safety for people at higher risk, is the first of its kind in Australia, and has been created for people at increased fire risk, and for people who support or care for them.
As a rooming house owner or manager you have a responsibility to ensure the safety of your residents is maintained at all times. This e-learning module will help you understand your role in making your rooming house safe as well as providing a guide for your residents especially where you or the manager do not live on site. The training will equip you and your staff with improved understanding of fire risks in the rooming house and assist them to discuss home fire safety with your residents.
You will find it beneficial to allow your residents to also view this module.
On average, 18 people die in residential house fires in Victoria every year, and people are at higher risk if they have difficulties identifying that a fire has started, or if they’re slower or unable to escape from a fire at home.
CFA Acting Chief Officer Gavin Thompson said this module focusses on three main elements to reduce risk. “Prevention is key, and this module looks at the many ways people can reduce the chance of a fire starting,” said A/CO Thompson.
“However, if there is a fire, early detection is crucial, and the importance of working smoke alarms is a big part of this module.
“Finally, this module helps people understand how to make an escape plan that is right for their individual needs.”
Go to cfa.vic.gov.au/atrisk or frv.vic.gov.au/atrisk to start your training today!
Rooming House Operators Act 2016
Your legal obligations in running a rooming house
Legislation for Minimum Standards for Rooming Houses
New Minimum Rooming House Standards
Consumer Affairs Victoria launches Rooming House Family Violence campaign
Model Rooming House Residency Agreement
Consumer Affairs Victoria has produced a Model Rooming House Residency Agreement which can be accessed as Word or pdf versions from the CAV website.
New Consumer Affairs Victoria Publication
CAV has released an updated 'Rooming houses: A guide for residents and operators. Operators must give this Guide to every new resident.
Copies are available from your nearest CAV office or by downloading the Guide from the following link. To order more than five copies, fax a request to CAV on (03) 8684 6333 or write to Consumer Affairs Victoria, GPO Box 123, Melbourne, Victoria 3001.
RAAV Policy Submissions
Centrepay changing rent deduction process from Centrelink payments
RAAV has been communicating with Centrepay over the last few weeks discussing changes which they will introduce on 1 July 2018 and two of RAAV's Committee met with senior Centerlink officers who oversee Centrepay.
These are important changes which will affect members who take advantage of having rents deducted from tenants' and residents' Centrelink payments.
The major change is that the Centrepay SA325 deduction authority and fax line will no longer exist. Centrelink will soon make a similar replacement form available to participants. All participants will be granted update access via their DAPA account (online Deduction and Payment Application for Centrepay).
Where participants do the DAPA update themselves, participants will have to collect and store written authorities. Participants must keep signed deduction authorities for 2 years for all DAPA updates.
During the meeting, it was mentioned by Centrelink that operators would be able to obtain verbal authority from the client to establish a deduction on their behalf. Centrepay is developing a simple script for this.
Overall, RAAV believes that this will be a positive change in the way Centrepay functions.
RAAV has been requesting changes to the disability access provisions
RAAV has been requesting the Federal Government for a couple of years to remove class 1b rooming houses from the disability access provisions.
A reply was received last year from Senator Sinodinos, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science in response. Our request was declined. This matter will be reviewed by the Government in a Regulatory Impact Assessment and RAAV will be consulted. Our input will be considered at the next 5 year review.
As yet, no further communication has been received from the Government and we are following up this important matter at both Federal and State levels.
Disability Access Concerns
RAAV continues to express its concern about the effect that the new Disability Access Provisions are having on the viability of the rooming house sector.
RAAV has made representations to the Australian Human Rights Commission, Attorney-General's Department, Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education and Australian Building Codes Board
The Disability Access provisions introduced in May 2010 are discouraging new class 1b rooming houses being established and also discouraging unregistered rooming house operators from seeking registration.
RAAV believes that rooming houses have been unintentionally caught up in the desire to provide disability access facilities at short-term accommodation in public buildings such as bed and breakfast establishments.
However, rooming houses provide private long-term residential accommodation usually greater than three months and cannot be classified as public buildings. RAAV's submission is focusing on the differences between public buildings and private rooming houses and RAAV's objective is to reverse the Disability Access Provisions required for Class 1b rooming houses.
RAAV is continuing its consultation program with the Government, the Building Commission of Victoria, local Councils and rooming house owners and operators to acquaint them with RAAV's concerns. RAAV will also be holding workshops and meetings with interested parties to outline the adverse effects that the new Disability Access provisions are having on creating new stock of Class 1b rooming houses.
The ultimate losers from this new legislation with are the disadvantaged community as sources of affordable accommodation dry up.
Residential Tenancies and other Consumer Acts Amendment Bill 2012
RAAV has made a submission to the Minister, highlighting our concerns about the privacy implications in the Bill. Here we have the key points of the submission:
Fire Safety - Developing Evacuation plans
Plan how you would escape a fire in your rooming house
Rooming House Operators who are well-prepared are more likely to ensure their residents escape their rooming homes safely and without panic.
As part of your plan, all residents should know:
The two quickest ways out of every room
How they will exit from upstairs if your rooming house has a second storey
An agreed-upon meeting place outside, such as the letterbox
How they will call Triple Zero (000)
Download and print a home fire escape plan template (PDF 148.6KB) to help create your plan and make sure it is compliant with AS 3745.
If someone in your family is older or has a disability, complete the Prevent Detect Escape e-learning module.
Fire safety
Fire Safety Management Plan
To assist you with developing a fire and evacuation manual for your rooming house the attached manual can be used as a guide. However be aware that it is a Queensland document and some of the legislative requirements may not apply in Victoria.