Rooming houses: a guide for residents and operators - NWHN

Rooming houses: A guide forresidents and operatorsIf someone breaks the rulesBoth residents and operators can givea ‘Breach of Duty’ notice to the otherperson if that person has not met certainobligations under the Residential TenanciesAct. Once a ‘Breach of Duty’ has beengiven, the person who received it must fixthe situation. Contact Consumer AffairsVictoria for information on how to issue a‘Breach of Duty’ notice.‘Breach of Duty’forms are availablefrom ConsumerAffairs Victoria.A 113 Exhibition Street,Melbourne 3000W consumer.vic.gov.au/rentingT 1300 55 81 81A resident may issue a ‘Breach of Duty’if an operator:• is not keeping facilities in goodcondition• has inconvenienced or disrupted themduring repairs or renovations• does not provide substitute facilitiesduring repairs or renovations• does not give the resident 24-houraccess to their room or bathroom• is not respecting their right to privacy,peace and quiet• is not keeping their belongings safe• does not provide information requiredby the Residential Tenancies Act• does not give them at least seven days’written notice of proposed changesto the house rules• does not take steps to ensure residentsfollow the house rules.An operator may issue a ‘Breach of Duty’if the resident is:• using the room for non-residentialpurposes• not paying their rent on time• interfering with the peace and quietof other residents• not keeping their room clean and clearof health or fire hazards• installing fixtures without the operator’swritten permission• not notifying or compensating theowner for any damage caused by themor their visitors• keeping a pet without theoperator’s consent• not giving the operator a keyto their room• not following the house rules.26