La Trobe Student Union Students demand equal tenancy rights

La Trobe Student Union Students demand equal tenancy rights for university students in Victoria

La Trobe Student Union (LTSU) launches its Know Your Rights Campaign today (02/05/2023) with the key goal of securing the same rights for students in university provided accommodation as any other tenant in Victoria.

Unlike private renters, Victorian students in university provided accommodation are not covered by the Rental Tenancies Act. In practice, this means common issues such as changing a light globe, fixing a sink or a guarantee of cleanliness, are not covered by law. The issue can become more complex for students who must qualify for on residence accommodation, are at risk of immediate fee changes or face eviction with 48 hours’ notice.

The LTSU is calling on all university and private student accommodation to be secure, safe, affordable and well maintained. The LTSU’s Knowing Your rights campaign calls for:

1. All Victorian private and university provided accommodation to meet Victoria’s Consumer Affairs basic minimum and amenities standards.
2. La Trobe University students renting in university provided accommodation to be awarded the same rights as all other renters in Victoria.
3. Until the law is changed for students in university accommodation, La Trobe University adopt the provisions of the Rental Tenancies Act for students in their properties.
4. Bonds for students living in La Trobe accommodation must be held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA), not the university or its’s subsidiaries.
5. For La Trobe university to guarantee 20% of their unoccupied accommodation as emergency accommodation to students.

The LTSU is will also provide students at the Melbourne Bundoora campus with resources to empower them to make informed choices about housing. The LTSU will also develop and promote a register of safe private renters for its members.

“Housing is a human right, and everyone deserves to feel safe and empowered at home. From my own lived experience, I know living in student accommodation at La Trobe can be a minefield. Rules and fees change responsibility for getting things done continually shifted. My friends in privately rented homes had protections. We must fight with them to get anything done with no sense of security that our bonds and rental property will be taken care of.” - Monika Galovic, LTSU President

“A landlord actually holding the bond of their tenant! This is a No Brainer that could easily be changed. the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) should hold our residential bond.” Quotes attributable to National Union of Student’s President Bailey Riley “Students deserve to be recognised under state tenant rights. They pay rent and they pay bond, what is the difference between them and students in private and public housing?” Quotes attributable to the National Union of Students President Bailey Riley: “Students deserve to be recognised under state tenant rights. They pay rent and they pay bond, what is the difference between them and students in private and public housing.” - Ramy Aljalil, LTSU General Secretary

More information here

Photos from our launch!