Boarder skirmish

By Melissa Meehan
ILLEGAL boarding houses are popping up around Greater Dandenong.
The news comes as several suspected incidents were brought up by councillors at Monday night’s council meeting.
Councillor Jim Memeti sought information about boarding house policies within the City of Greater Dandenong.
Cr Memeti received a petition with 30 signatures asking council to close down an alleged illegal boarding house in Leed Street, Dandenong.
“The tight-knit neighbourhood has become aware of suspicious behaviour surrounding a house that was a deceased estate,” he said.
“A little while ago they noticed beds going in and now have reported drinking, fighting and bad language outside that house.”
He said that he wanted to make council aware of the residents’ plight and hoped that they could bring a stop to it.
“The residents are concerned about the type of people this property is bringing to the street,” he said.
“I am making council aware that it does not currently have a permit to operate as a boarding house.
“There needs to be an intention to apply for a permit or the house must resume as a residential house.”
Director of development services Mal Baker said that there was no council policy on illegal boarding houses.
“There is no policy, but all boarding houses must comply to building regulations,” he said.
When asked if the council had the power to close them down, he said if a boarding house breached regulations much tougher penalties could be handed down under state legislation.
Cr Angela Long also briefly referred to an alleged second illegal boarding house, without giving further specific details.
Cr Memeti said he planned to hold a meeting next week with residents to discuss the matter further.
The issue comes to light as the Shadow Minister for Planning Matthew Guy has called on the Brumby government to develop legislation to regulate boarding houses in Victoria.
Under current legislation, only boarding houses with more than 10 rooms are subject to planning laws.
Furthermore, only certain establishments must be registered under the health act.
Recently more than 20 residents were evicted from an illegal boarding house in Richmond by Yarra Council staff.