More and more Melburnians are living in apartments – but our laws aren’t keeping up.
That’s why I, along with other Greens MPs, ran an ‘apartment living’ survey to hear from people who live in apartments. Thank you to everyone who shared with us what you love about your community – and what needs to change.
We are using what you told us in the apartment living survey, input from our apartments forum, and conversations we’ve been having in the community to shape our work in Parliament.
It is clear that many residents are frustrated by rules and laws – especially Owners Corp rules – that have not kept up with the increase in apartment residents.
Some of the issues that came up include:
- Huge costs for owners to remedy building defects and flammable cladding, and governments, developers and builders taking little to no responsibility
- Developers locking residents into long, expensive and unfair contracts
- Residents facing roadblocks in being able to make buildings more sustainable such as getting solar or EV charging stations
- Building Managers not responding to basic requests for building maintenance
- Disruptions from short stay accommodation like AirBnB
This year we’ll be working with the Government on reforms to the rules that govern Owners Corporations.
That’s just the start.
You told us that making apartment living the best it can be means laws that protect residents from greedy developers, support electrification, and services and green spaces that serve the community.
We see a vision for Melbourne where apartments are for people and communities, not developer profits. You can still fill in the survey on my website, or get in touch with any questions.
