SHLP work areas
The Social Housing Legal Program began in 2025 to address the legal gap for renters in community housing who did not have legal service dedicated to their needs.
The most common matters we see are:
1. Evictions/termination of tenancy by rental provider: Our case studies show a higher inclination of community housing providers to seek to evict renters than Homes Victoria. This is often on the basis of a small amount of rental arrears, or alleged renter behavioural issues, where alternate approaches to resolution have not been exhausted.
2. Repairs: Despite much of the community housing stock being recently built, poor construction and a failure to maintain these homes with a building-wide approach results in high occurrences of mould and pest issues among our clients.
3. Rent calculation: Unclear calculation policies, an inflexibility in how such policies are applied and incorporate changes to the household income of clients results in many enquiries to our service. This is compounded by service charges imposed by community housing providers, that can often be very costly to the clients, and without a clear basis.
4. Transfers: The inadequacy of social housing stock at a time when the rental market is increasingly difficult to access results in many renters unable to secure or move to a house that suits their needs as their lives change.
5. Bonds: Disputes over a community housing provider seeking to retain part of a bond for things like damage, cleaning or unpaid rent can result in lengthy legal processes up to a formal Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing.
6. Higher cost: Renters who have shifted from public housing to community housing have found difficulties navigating increased utility and service fee costs.
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