HAAG says the new laws include significant changes that will improve the day-to-day life of residents. These include:
mandatory code of conduct for operators
standardized contracts for new residents
limits on renovation costs
fairer rules about allocating capital gain
greater transparency and clarity about fees
Fiona York, HAAG Executive Officer, welcomed the introduction of standardized contracts to address the complexity and variety of contracts in retirement villages.
“For many years we have been calling for an end to ambiguous and confusing contracts, which have made it difficult for people to compare villages or understand their real costs. And so we welcome this reform,” she said.
“We have seen shocking mistreatment of our clients in retirement villages by unscrupulous operators, caused by a lack of adequate consumer protections and regulation. The mandatory Code of Conduct has the potential to provide stronger consumer protection and a better experience for residents,” she said.
The new laws will come into effect on 1 May 2026