By ALESHA CAPONE
BRIMBANK City Council has investigated more than 100 suspected illegal rooming houses over the past 12 months.
A council spokesman said the homes had predominantly been located in Sunshine and St Albans.
Rooming houses – often used as accommodation for homeless people or disadvantaged families – are defined as places where individuals rent bedrooms, but share a kitchen and bathroom between four or more people.
“Brimbank City Council currently has 19 premises registered as rooming houses under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act,” the council spokesman said.
“Operators of rooming houses are required to register the operation of a rooming house with their local council.
“In the past year, council has investigated more than 100 properties believed to be operating as rooming houses.
“To date, most property owners when informed of the compliance requirements associated with rooming houses have reverted the properties back to single resident occupation and legal action was not required.
“Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of rooming houses registered within the Brimbank area, there has also been an increase in notifications from the public of properties suspected as being operated as a rooming house.”
A report from 2011, carried out by the Salvation Army Adult Services Community Outreach Services in Kensington, uncovered more than 65 residences operating as rooming houses in Brimbank and Maribyrnong.
The report found overall the quality of life for those living in rooming houses was “poor, with significant safety issues, negative impacts on health, and lack of basic facilities such as cooking equipment and bedding”.
Contact Brimbank City Council on 9249 4000 to report concerns about suspected unregistered rooming houses.
