Rooming houses exposed across Victoria after country town anger
Thefts, vandalism and threats allegedly due to an unregulated rooming house is the norm in this once peaceful town, and it’s not the only area of concern. Check this list to see if there is one near you.
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A picturesque Victorian country town is allegedly being terrorised by tenants of an unregulated rooming house who steal from local shops and vandalise street furniture.
Locals are furious that RJE Ventures is charging tenants $295 per room for a property in Avoca, but failing to provide adequate support services.
The company has only applied for a planning permit for the property in the historic town’s main street more than a year after it was set up.
Now locals are angry, saying that their town of less than 1000 people was the wrong location for a rooming house for vulnerable people.
The dispute has raised questions about the location of 1600 rooming houses across Victoria, which were often rented out to people who have just left jail.
Avoca Post office manager Bec Wardlaw said the rooming house had changed the town.
She argued that there was no public transport in Avoca, except for a 4am coach to Ballarat, which is an hour’s drive away.
“We’ve had a lot of hassles with the tenants in that rooming house because they’re not supported by the services they need,” she said.
“We don’t have a 24 hour police station. It should be somewhere else, there are a lot of bigger towns that do have facilities that can help these people. It causes a lot of stress for everyone.”
Marilyn Devlin, who owns the Home Made Cafe next door to the rooming house, said she had to close her shop when a tenant started turning over street furniture because she was scared for customers’ safety.
“A lady from the rooming house came in screaming at my customers. A customer reported it to police. I heard her talking to police but the police never came. We live beside them, they are screaming and yelling at night.”
Glen Bamford, who works at the local supermarket, said the rooming house tenants had been banned because they were continually stealing alcohol.
“We’ve had quite a few thefts in the store. They don’t acknowledge anyone, they just walk in and take liquor and walk out.
“The boarding house should be moved, it’s too isolated, it should be in a bigger regional town.”
RJE Ventures trades under the name Next Step Housing confirmed it had applied for a permit to rent the property as a rooming house but claimed it was not aware of complaints.
“We understand that social and affordable housing developments can raise questions in
close-knit communities,” the company said in a statement.
“We are committed to transparent communication with the Avoca
community and maintaining the high standards that characterise all our properties.
“We have not been advised of any crime-related concerns in the area and remain committed
to positive community outcomes.”
The company claimed it provided “essential accommodation options”.
Police at the Avoca Police Station declined to comment.
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