Rooming houses: a guide for residents and operators - NWHN

Can a resident be forcedto leave?Suspending or evicting a residentusing a ‘Notice to Leave’If an operator reasonably believes a residentor their visitor has committed a seriousact of violence or put the safety of otheroccupants in danger, the operator may givean official ‘Notice to Leave to Resident/sof Managed Premises or Resident’s Visitor’form. This suspends the residency.The resident or their visitor must then leavethe rooming house and are not allowedback for two days. During this time, theoperator may apply to VCAT to ask thatthe resident or their visitor not be allowedback permanently.The resident must continue to pay rent andother charges during the suspension period.If VCAT decides that the resident should nothave been suspended, the operator must letthem back into the rooming house.During the suspension period, the operatormay apply to VCAT to evict the resident.The operator must do this within twobusiness days of serving the notice.Until VCAT decides the matter, theresident must stay out of the roominghouse. The resident must contact VCATas soon as possible to find out the dateand time of the hearing.If the operator does not apply to VCATto permanently evict the resident, theresident may return to the rooming houseonce the suspension has finished.It is an offence for aresident or their visitorto return to therooming house duringthe suspension period.33