Housing unfit for humans

Refugee families are living with mice and mold, too scared of eviction to speak out.
Dandenong non-profit Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) drew attention to the issue during Refugee Week.
WHISE works closely with newly arrived and refugee women to help them access mainstream services, including finding suitable rental accommodation.
“My clients live mostly in private rentals and often have to move house,” settlement services officer Marian Salvage said.
“One of my tasks is to help them find new accommodation.
“These women are great tenants – they are fastidious, they don’t drink or smoke or play loud music, or have pets.”
Ms Salvage said she regularly attended open for inspections with clients.
“I have come across rot and mould on walls due to excessive moisture; leaking taps, which create a huge problem with the of rising costs of water; clients with young children having to go without hot water for two weeks despite numerous calls; and mice and cockroach infestations, just to name a few,” she said.
“The situation we have at the moment is that landlords appear to have more power when it comes to the rental market.
“We need to ensure that landlords take responsibility for the properties they rent out.”
The State Government is reviewing the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and WHISE urged people to stand up and have their voice heard.
Ms Salvage said having a clean and safe place to live was getting harder, but making money off the poor and vulnerable during this housing boom was not acceptable.
“This is happening in our own backyard, and we just can’t stand by and ignore it,” she said.
Visit www.makerentingfair.org/petition-RTA to get involved.