What a residents committee can do
A residents committee is an elected group of residents who represent the interests of all residents in a retirement village. Having a committee is not compulsory.
A residents committee can:
- Call meetings of all residents: The committee may convene a meeting of all residents at any time.
- Request changes to services or facilities: Where the committee makes a written request to the operator to propose a change to services or facilities, the operator must put the matter to a vote of all residents within 28 days.
Some residents committees also manage services or organise outings and recreational activities.
Serving on and running the committee
A residents committee may be elected at any meeting of residents, including at the annual meeting that the operator is required to hold each year.
Any resident may stand for election to the committee. Members hold office for one year and are eligible for re-election. A committee member may be removed at any time by special resolution at a meeting of residents.
The committee sets its own meeting procedures and decides how often to meet. It may form sub-committees for specific purposes.
A resident who is a member of the residents committee may appoint another person to act in place of them at any committee meeting.
Attending committee meetings
The operator, the proprietor and anyone representing them may not attend a residents committee meeting unless the committee invites them. This cannot be overridden by any term in a residence contract or management contract.
Owners corporations
A village will have an owners corporation where the retirement village land includes common property that is vested in an owners corporation under the Owners Corporations Act 2006.
This is most commonly villages where residents own their own lots and share ownership of common areas such as gardens, car parks and communal facilities.
Where there is an owners corporation, it holds all the powers of a residents committee under the Retirement Villages Act 1986 as well as its own powers under the Owners Corporations Act 2006.
A retirement village’s information statement will provide information on if a village has a residents committee or an owners corporation.