Ingenia Gardens will pay over $1 million after failing to provide safe and functional kitchen facilities in rental units for older, financially vulnerable Victorians.
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) investigated the company after a report from the Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG).
Inspections by CAV’s Renting Taskforce found that many units did not have cooktops and that rental agreements prohibited renters from cooking at home.
Ingenia Gardens instead offered renters paid meal plans at an additional cost.
Not having cooktops in a rental property is a breach of Victoria’s rental minimum standards – mandatory requirements to make a property safe, functional and secure. Including unfair terms in a contract is a breach of the Australian Consumer Law.
Under an enforceable undertaking, Ingenia Gardens has agreed to pay $1 million, will compensate affected renters an estimated $400,000, and will pay $100,000 to HAAG.
Ingenia Gardens operates over 250 units in Victoria and markets its properties to seniors looking for low maintenance and independent living.
As part of the undertaking, the company must report to CAV every 6 months to demonstrate it’s improving its properties to meet minimum standards.
It must also remove unfair contract terms stopping people cooking in their own home. The company may also be audited for compliance at any time.
CAV Director Nicole Rich said minimum standards were not optional.
‘They exist to ensure all renters have access to a safe and functional home. Failing to provide basic kitchen facilities and prohibiting renters from cooking in their own homes is unacceptable and unlawful.
‘We will continue to take strong and decisive action against any rental providers – big or small – who fail to meet their legal obligations,’ Rich said.
Ingenia Gardens is part of the Ingenia Communities Group (ASX:INA), with over 100 communities and development sites across Australia.
A copy of the undertaking is available at: