What ARAS can assist with
ARAS can provide information and advocacy support about matters relating to a person's retirement village residency, including:
- rights and entitlements under the Retirement Villages Act 2016, as amended, and Retirement Villages Regulations 2017;
- residence contracts and agreements;
- questions or concerns about the resident's contract with the operator;
- fees and charges related to retirement village residency;
- service delivery;
- maintenance concerns;
- communication with village management or the retirement village operator;
- concerns or complaints about the retirement village operator;
- dispute resolution processes;
- mediation processes with the retirement village operator;
- meetings with the retirement village operator;
- exploring options for resolving disputes with the operator; and
- SACAT proceedings relating to retirement village matters, including assistance with documents and, where appropriate and within the program's role, attendance at proceedings.
Dispute resolution and SACAT
ARAS can provide information and advocacy support to residents involved in dispute resolution processes with a retirement village operator.
Support may include helping the resident understand the process, preparing relevant documents, exploring available options and providing support during mediation or meetings with the operator.
Where a matter proceeds to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT), ARAS may assist the resident to understand the process, prepare documents and, where appropriate and within the program's role, attend proceedings with the resident.
What ARAS cannot assist with
ARAS cannot:
- provide legal advice or legal representation;
- review a prospective resident's agreement for the purpose of providing legal advice;
- provide financial planning, taxation or investment advice;
- assist with property transactions unrelated to a retirement village residence contract;
- assist with disputes solely between residents where the operator or village management has no relevant role;
- provide mediation or conflict resolution for disputes solely between residents;
- assist with family or inheritance disputes;
- assist with matters unrelated to retirement village residency or the operator's responsibilities;
- assist with matters concerning lifestyle villages, residential parks or independent living units that are not registered retirement villages; or
- act on behalf of a deceased resident's estate in relation to exit entitlements.
