retvilldotnet: December 2019

Wednesday, 25 December 2019

Destruction Of Retiree Life Savings

Retirement Village - Pay a 'buy' price to enter. No ownership only occupancy, Only get 60% back on exit - Pay maintenance, Refurbishment, Selling costs, all on property you do not own. Your financial destiny is? #vicpol @MarleneKairouz @consumervic #springst @GayleTierney #auspol pic.twitter.com/nVoBFSiant
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) December 24, 2019

Worst Retirement Village Laws Victoria

Labor = the worst retirement village laws in the country. 72% of Retirement Villages owned by commercial for-profit operators. 74% of Retirement Villages residents DO NOT have unit ownership, merely right to occupy despite paying big bucks to enter. Legislators need to act now. pic.twitter.com/HJLSje7A7B
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) December 24, 2019

Wishing Everyone A Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Asked Santa for meaningful reforms to the Victorian Retirement Villages Act. His elves in Spring St. have trouble producing them, perhaps 2020 is the year. Thoughts are with all those impacted by fires this Christmas season. #springst #vicpol pic.twitter.com/0TD9aT37Ar
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) December 22, 2019

Just Get A Job Says Politician

Oh yes @LukeHowarthMP it is just so easy to get a job and be able to afford commercial rents. It is just so easy however to look down from the rarefied atmosphere politicians inhabit clearly without a deep understanding of what is really happening. pic.twitter.com/kqjpicYvFN
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) December 21, 2019

Delivering For All Victorians We'll See In 2020

Let us hope 'FAIRNESS' becomes No.1 in #retirementvillage reforms. It is sorely needed as to this point Victoria is lagging well behind. 'Delivering for ALL Victorians' will be tested in 2020. #vicpol @DanielAndrewsMP @MarleneKairouz @consumervic @michaelobrienmp #springst pic.twitter.com/yjQFaS3bin
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) December 20, 2019

Fairness A Key Element For Consumer Protection

Vic Legislators. 72% of Retirement Villages owned by for-profit operators. 74% of Retirement Villages residents DO NOT have ownership, merely right to occupy. Will a new Act reflect 'FAIRNESS' for residents? @DanielAndrewsMP @MarleneKairouz @consumervic @michaelobrienmp #springst pic.twitter.com/FKybrhJinD
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) December 20, 2019

Thursday, 19 December 2019

Capital Gains May Not Be What is Claimed

Differing financial outcomes for retirement village residents with capital gain provisions in occupancy contracts. https://t.co/Gohw5gSS2Y Methodology used for refundable $ can have dramatic impacts. #vicpol @DanielAndrewsMP @MarleneKairouz @consumervic @michaelobrienmp #springst pic.twitter.com/Neg1UnzhTp
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) December 17, 2019

Jail for Former Aged Care Director

Former Mentone Gardens Supportive Care Home (Supported Residential Service) director Gela Newitt to spend 10 months in jail for fraud #SRS https://t.co/Aec7ahqDH0
— Aged Care Crisis (@agedcarecrisis) December 16, 2019

Delivering For All Victorians To Be Tested

Claims of Delivering for all Victorians to be tested, public submissions to review of Vic #retirementvillage legislation closing. @DanielAndrewsMP @MarleneKairouz gov't openly states consumer protection cannot come at cost of growth and innovation of private enterprise. #springst pic.twitter.com/amKyLxjujy
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) December 4, 2019

Victorian Government to Review Retirement Villages Act

Public submissions to Victorian Government review of #retirementvillage legislation closing. Will they get it right this time? History indicates they will fail, seduced by industry lobbying. Maybe just import NSW version. @MarleneKairouz @consumervic @michaelobrienmp #springst pic.twitter.com/5hb7lW3Oam
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) December 4, 2019

Government Promises Innovation and Growth

Victorian gov't feels the need to ensure a commercially based #retirementvillage industry can 'innovate and grow'. Since when is ensuring success of private enterprise an obligation of government. #vicpol @DanielAndrewsMP @MarleneKairouz @consumervic @michaelobrienmp #springst pic.twitter.com/rv9fKNeJX3
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) December 3, 2019

Village Residents Can Pay Buy Price Without Ownership

Retirement Village - Pay a 'buy' price to enter. No ownership only occupancy, Only get 60% back on exit - Pay maintenance, Refurbishment, Selling costs, all on property you do not own. Your financial destiny is? #vicpol @MarleneKairouz @consumervic @michaelobrienmp #springst pic.twitter.com/JfOgGauGkv
— Les Scobie (@retvilldotnet) November 28, 2019

Function of Government

The role of government is to create an environment for commerce to function whilst at the same time protecting retirees and particularly vulnerable retirees from both financial and emotional harm emanating from that function.

The Victorian Retirement Villages Act 1986 provides the environment for commerce to function but fails to fully protect retirees from financial and emotional harm as a result of it.

The Victorian legislative definition of a retirement village in demanding the payment of an 'in-going' amount without the transfer of property ownership is a major contributor to that financial and emotional harm suffered by retirees.