The Code of Residents' Rights
The Code of Residents' Rights summarises the basic rights the Retirement Villages Act gives to all residents.
A copy of it must be given to intending residents with their disclosure statement. The village operator must also give a copy to a resident or intending resident if they ask for one.
The full text of the Code of Residents' Rights, in Schedule 4 of the Act, is set out below:
Code of Residents' Rights
Basic rights of residents
This is a summary of the basic rights given to you by the Retirement Villages Act 2003.
Services and other benefits
- You have the right to services and other benefits promised to you in your occupation right agreement.
Information
- You have the right to information relating to any matters affecting or likely to affect the terms or conditions of your residency.
Consultation
- You have the right to be consulted by the operator about any proposed changes in the services and benefits provided or the charges that you pay that will or might have a material impact on your-
- occupancy; or
- ability to pay for the services and benefits provided.
Right to complain
- You have the right to complain to the operator and to receive a response within a reasonable time.
Disputes
- You have the right to a speedy and efficient process for resolving disputes between you and the operator or between you and other residents of the village.
Use of support person or representative
- You have the right, in your dealings with the operator or other residents of the village, to involve a support person or a person to represent you. The cost of involving a support person or person to represent you must be met by you.
Right to be treated with courtesy and have rights respected
- You have the right to be treated with courtesy and have your rights respected by the operator, the people who work at the village, and the people who provide services at the village.
Right not to be exploited
- You have the right not to be exploited by the operator, the people who work at the village, and the people who provide services at the village.
Your obligations to others
Your rights exist alongside the rights of other residents and the rights of the operator, the people who work at the village, and the people who provide services at the village. In the same way that these people are expected to respect your rights, it is expected that you in return will respect their rights and treat them with courtesy.
Operator's contact person
If you want more information about your rights or wish to make a complaint against the operator or another resident, the operator's contact person is [name] [telephone number]
Other contact persons
Other contact persons, if you wish to make a complaint about a breach of your rights, are:
- The statutory supervisor (if there is one):
- The Registrar of Retirement Villages.
Information
The Retirement Commissioner publishes information on the code of residents' rights and disputes procedures available under the Retirement Villages Act 2003 that may assist to resolve your complaint.
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Contact details for the Registrar of Retirement Villages and the Retirement Commissioner are at the end of this guide.
Code doesn't apply to health and disability services
The Code of Residents' Rights does not cover any health or disability services or facilities. Consumers of health and disability services have rights under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (which has the status of a regulation under the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994). To contact the Health and Disability Commissioner see Contacts at the end of this guide.
Page last updated: May 2007