VCOSS

Uninhabitable: 1 in 10 rental homes

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New campaign to make all rental homes safe, healthy and affordable to run

One in ten rental properties are unfit for human habitation, according to a survey of rental properties by the Victorian Council of Social Service.
In response to the survey Chief Executive of VCOSS Cath Smith announced the start of ‘Decent not dodgy’ – a campaign to ensure that all renters are guaranteed a home which is safe, healthy and affordable to run.

“It’s disgraceful that some unscrupulous Victorian landlords are renting out properties that lack the basics most of us take for granted like heating, doors that lock and cooking facilities.  We call on the Victorian Government to reform the Residential Tenancies Act to include basic living standards for rental properties.”

From 13 – 27 March 2010, VCOSS and the Tenants Union of Victoria sent out teams posing as renters to 116 properties in 54 suburbs across Melbourne and Geelong.  They found:

• 14 per cent of properties with 2 of the following characteristics: no heating, visible lack of weather proofing, extensive mould, unsafe (no electrical safety switch or deadlocks)
• 39 per cent of properties had no or only some deadlocks on external doors
• 33 per cent of properties with no safety switch
• 11 per cent of properties with visible lack of weather proofing
• 20 per cent of properties with visible and extensive mould (bathroom only)
• 19 per cent of properties not connected to gas

For more information, or to arrange an interview
contact John Kelly – M: 0425 701 080

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VCOSS
Level 8, 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
T: 03 9654 5050 F: 03 9654 5749 W: vcoss@vcoss.org.au E: vcoss@vcoss.org.au