Gerald Lynch
An entire floor of residents in a Sunshine Aboriginal Housing block have been threatened with paying hundreds of dollars in fines in a bid to crack down on “anti-social behaviour”.
A letter from Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV), seen by Star Weekly, was sent to all renters of level three apartments at 15-19 Service Street, Sunshine, and told residents the organisation would take a “zero tolerance approach” to the “disgusting behaviour”.
“This includes the throwing, smearing of food and rubbish throughout the common areas as well as ongoing breaches of security for residents for the entire building,” the letter stated.
“Due to these ongoing issues AHV has been left with no other choice than to issue invoices to every household on the third floor until the culprits cease this disgusting behaviour or leave the complex.”
The letter states invoices would be sent to every household on level 3, at a rate of $250 per complaint.
For the week of October 6 to October 11, that would have meant $500 in fees added on as AHV had two complaints about the floor.
Renter Melissa, a 37-year-old single mother of four, said she is “finding it hard enough with the cost of living and also suffering from family violence,” and doesn’t think it is fair that her family and others on the floor have to pay for the actions of a small minority.
The letter also stated that to avoid paying the fees, renters must either provide evidence that they are not the one who has committed the offence, or evidence of someone who has.
Invoices would be sent with a 30-day deadline with additional fees to be added on if left unpaid, and if a rent account enters more than 14 days in arrears, a notice to vacate and possession order action will be taken to forcefully take back the property from the renter, the letter stated.
An AHV spokesperson conceded the letter sent to residents was unacceptable.
“We recognise the concern caused by the communications issued to the renters and acknowledge that this communication was not very clear and does not meet our standards,” the spokesperson said.
“AHV can confirm that all renters of Service Street have been, or attempted to have been, contacted directly by our manager of community housing to clarify the communications surrounding fines, and ensure that they are aware that no breaches have currently been issued by the owners corporation.
“AHV actively communicates with its renters their obligations under the residential tenancies act, alongside their additional responsibilities under owners corporation rules and local council by-laws.
“In these communications we remind renters that should a breach of these obligations be identified by the respective agencies, such as an owners corporation; they may take action. AHV’s relationship is directly with the renter and managing any tenancy concerns of properties we own.”
