If you live in a re-gazetted SDA and have a residential statement, your rights remain protected under the Disability Act 2006.
The Department of Health and Human Services asked for their group homes to be re-gazetted.
If you live in a home that has been re-gazetted and have a residential statement, the statement remains valid. Your residential rights are protected under the Disability Act 2006.
If your SDA has not been re-gazetted, you and your provider must start a new residential agreement.
SDA that has not been re-gazetted
Your provider must do one of the following:
- enter into or establish an SDA residency agreement with you, or
- enter into a:
- Residential tenancy agreement for a short-term lease with you, or
- Residential tenancy agreement for a long-term lease with you.
Your provider must also give you the information statement that matches your agreement. Either the:
- information statement for an SDA residency agreement, or
- information statement for a Residential tenancy agreement.
To download these documents, including Easy English versions, view our Resources for residents page.
Explain certain information
Your provider must explain the following information to you in a way you can understand:
- the information statement for an SDA residency agreement or
- the information statement for a Residential tenancy agreement (short-term or long-term lease)
- any notice you receive under Part 12A – for example, a Notice of rent increase or a Breach of duty notice
- any order or direction from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
This explanation can be verbal or in writing.
Appoint a support person
Your provider must ask someone to support you if:
- you do not have a support person, and
- your disability makes it difficult to understand the agreement or information statement.
This support person cannot work for your provider.
Other responsibilities
Your provider:
- collects your rent
- fixes any issues in your housing
- tells you about any changes to your agreement
- handles any complaints you have about your housing.
Your provider has the same responsibilities as landlords in Victoria. For more information, view our Renting section.