New WA laws assist village residents
Western Australian laws which give retirement village residents an avenue to appeal unwarranted charges have been passed in state parliament. The laws also reportedly limit the time recurrent charges must be paid by non-owner residents after they leave a village.
Western Australian laws which give retirement village residents an avenue to appeal unwarranted charges have been passed in state parliament.
The laws also reportedly limit the time recurrent charges must be paid by non-owner residents after they leave a village.
Residents will be able to appeal excessive or unwarranted increases in charges to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), as well as have more time to consider contract information and a longer cooling-off period.
Western Australian Commerce Minister, Simon O’Brien, explains the tribunal – on application by the commissioner for consumer protection – will make orders to appoint a manager to a retirement village if that village is “seriously mismanaged”.
“There are also provisions prohibiting unsuitable people from operating or managing a village.
“The SAT will also be able to order operators to complete promised works and honour any other contractual obligations,” he adds.
According to Mr O’Brien, the new laws strike a “good balance” between addressing the concerns of residents while maintaining a viable industry.
Retirement village management will reportedly be able to release payments from residents from trust once a resident is entitled to occupy a unit, rather than the previous arrangement where the operator had to wait until they moved in.
