Steps to resolving retirement village disputes

If you have a problem with a retirement village operator or another person in the village, there are steps you can take to resolve the problem.

There is more than one way to resolve a dispute and different options may suit your situation better.

Miscommunications and misunderstandings are often the cause of disputes and it is important to try to talk to the person involved first.

You can apply for a tribunal hearing if you feel you are at risk of losing your home or you are a party to a building work dispute (about reinstatement or renovation work) or a mandatory buy-back dispute with the operator..

This guide will take you through the steps involved to resolve the dispute yourself or with outside help, including getting legal advice.

Before you start, you should know about:

• documents the operator must supply
• our useful contacts
• village finances
• leaving a retirement village

Behavioural standards

As a resident of a retirement village, you're required at all times to:

• respect the rights of other residents and other persons in the retirement village
• not unreasonably interfere, or unreasonably cause or permit interference, with the peace, comfort and privacy of another resident
• respect the rights of the scheme operator and the scheme operator’s representatives to work in an environment free from harassment and intimidation
• not act in a way that adversely affects the occupational health and safety of a person who is working in a retirement village and is employed or otherwise authorised to work in the retirement village, by the scheme operator.

How will these obligations be enforced?

Both residents and scheme operators are required to comply with behavioural standards. These obligations are enforceable through the dispute resolution procedures outlined in the Retirement Villages Act 1999.

Help with other issues

You can get help and support if you are worried about or a victim of elder abuse. If you are being discriminated against because of your age read our support services information.

More information

• Find out more from the Queensland Law Society
• Find out more from the Queensland Retirement Village and Park Advice Service
• Email regulatoryservices@chde.qld.gov.au

Steps to resolving retirement village disputes

In this guide:

1. Try to resolve it together first
2. Try mediation
3. Tribunal hearing
4. Make a complaint

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