Retirement villages are an important part of available housing options as we get older and Consumer Protection is keen to get your feedback about proposed reforms to legislation.

We recently released the final consultation paper in Stage Two of the retirement villages’ legislation reform process in Western Australia, and all interested parties are encouraged to make a submission.

You can provide feedback on the phone, via email or through the post before submissions close on 21 July 2021.

The Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement 4 (CRIS 4) includes proposals for a new process to manage significant changes to a village, improving protections for consumers in ‘off the plan’ sales and leases as well as looking at options to improve dispute resolution processes.

The consultation is also seeking feedback on emerging issues relating to strata title retirement villages, building defects, insurance and the provision of home care services in retirement villages.

The most significant proposed legislative reforms in this paper aim to provide a better process to manage significant changes that might be required to a village.

The intention is to ensure the proposed changes are suitable for new and emerging village models while maintaining the necessary protections for residents.

This final paper is an important part of a broader consultation process on implementing recommendations made in the Statutory Review of Retirement Villages Legislation Final Report (2010) and in considering other issues that have arisen since that time.

Previous papers have canvassed reforms in a wide range of areas such as improving consumer understanding of the retirement village product and what residents pay; village refurbishment and capital works; and the payment of resident exit entitlements.

Consumer Protection also welcomes comment on any of the issues raised in previous papers in light of the information in this final paper, and any additional matters that respondents think should be considered.

View the consultation papers and get further information about making a submission on the Consumer Protection website at www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/retirement-villages-review. 

Enquiries and submissions can be made by calling 1300 304 054 and by email to consultations@dmirs.wa.gov.au

Gary Newcombe

Commissioner for Consumer Protection