• Williamstown, Altona, Laverton Star

By Nicole Precel

3rd November 2009 11:05:50 AM

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HOBSONS Bay rooming house tenants could soon be experiencing better living conditions.

The State Government has announced that it would invest $77.2 million in supplying rooming house accommodation and there would be stricter regulation of operators in response to the Rooming House Standards Taskforce report.

The Rooming House Standards Taskforce was established in July and developed 32 recommendations to improve crisis accommodation for disadvantaged Victorians.

Hobsons Bay councillor Tony Briffa said this was a win for rooming house tenants but also those in the community living close to rooming house operations.

“I’m very pleased that something we have raised locally in Hobsons Bay has been received on a Victoria-wide level,” he said.

Hobsons Bay City Council had raised the issue with the Municipal Association of Victoria and at a conference on Thursday a motion to petition the State Government for stricter regulation of rooming houses had been passed by the 79 Victorian councils represented there.

Cr Briffa said he thought the MAV’s decision would have had a major impact on the State Government’s decision to implement the new rooming house package.

As Star reported in September, the council had been investigating seven unregistered boarding houses for breaches of building and health regulations in Williamstown, Laverton, Altona North and Seabrook.

The State Government would adopt all 32 recommendations made by the taskforce and would now determine the best way to implement them.

Premier John Brumby said the people who used rooming housing would be offered greater protection from exploitation.

“While many rooming house operators are fair and reputable, there is growing evidence of illegal and unscrupulous behaviour by some landlords which is why the government is taking action,” he said.

The recommendations would mean there had to be mandatory registration of operators and premises and the strengthening of compliance and enforcement.

The government would also introduce new laws to improve safety and security, increase the power of the Consumer Affairs Victoria to act on rooming house operators, provide $50 million to build 200 new homes for families needing crisis accommodation and $13.8 million to buy and lease new non-profit rooming homes.

The government will also provide $2.5 million to help rooming house residents find long-term, stable and private rental accommodation.

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