���������

The research, ‘Business models, consumer experiences and regulation of retirement villages’, undertaken for ���������by researchers from University of Tasmania, UNSW and Synergy Consulting, explores the business models used by retirement villages, and surveys residents to understand the appeal, benefits and disadvantages of living in retirement village accommodation.

Large data breaches recently in Australia have been caused by cyber hacking of data, but the legal collection and use of data, particularly rental data, from people is of concern too. Not only can tenants' personal data be hacked and/or leaked, it can also be used to manipulate them, or even to discriminate against them.

Modifying dwellings to enable older residents to live more independently means people stay in their homes longer and saves governments money in not having to supply greater numbers of beds in supported age care establishments. However, for older people who do not own their dwellings such modifications are only possible with permission from landlords, and usually properties must be returned to their previous state when the tenancy ends. If the older tenant then has to move into another private rental dwelling they will have to pay for modifications (and repairs) again. This would be the case each time they are required to move into a new property.

In head leasing, a housing agency (which could be a not-for-profit, for-profit or a government organisation) leases a property from a property owner and then on-leases the property to the tenant. The housing agency is responsible for making sure the landlord is paid rent at the correct time, that the property is treated with care and that leases, legalities and repairs are negotiated fairly with the landlord.

In recent weeks, four separate reports into homelessness and unaffordable housing issues that are of concern to Australian governments at all levels have been published.