HOUSING ACT 1983

Table of Provisions

• Long Title

PART I--PRELIMINARY

Division 1--Commencement, repeals, interpretations

• 1 Short title  
• 2 Commencement  
• 3 Repeals and savings  
• 4 Definitions  
• 5 Act binds the Crown  

Division 2--Objects

• 6 Objects  

PART II--ADMINISTRATION

Division 1--The Minister

• 7 Minister to have powers etc. under agreement  
• 8 Advisory committees  

Division 2--The Chief Executive Officer, Homes Victoria

• 9 Chief Executive Officer, Homes Victoria  
• 10 Homes Victoria to be subject to the direction and control of Minister  
• 11 Director to be successor to Housing Commission and Home Finance Trust  

Division 3--Homes Victoria Advisory Board

• 11A Homes Victoria Advisory Board  
• 11B Constitution of Advisory Board  
• 11C Role and functions of Advisory Board  
• 11D Appointment of Advisory Board members  
• 11E Vacancy and removal from Advisory Board  
• 11F Resignation  
• 11G Meetings of Advisory Board  
• 11H Advisory Board must provide forward plan to Minister  

PART III--POWERS OF HOMES VICTORIA AS TO PROPERTY

• 13 Ministerial control  
• 14 Power to acquire and dispose of land  
• 15 Power to develop and manage land  
• 16 Power to create and extinguish easements etc.  
• 17 Power to accept donations etc.  
• 18 Provision of movable units  

PART IV--POWERS OF HOMES VICTORIA AS TO FINANCE

Division 1--General

• 19 Ministerial control  
• 20 Power to borrow money  
• 21 Power to lend money  
• 22 Investment of surplus funds[4]  
• 23 Death and disability benefits  
• 24 Power to make grants of money  
• 25 The general fund  
• 26 Project funds  
• 26A Guarantee, indemnity and security by Homes Victoria[7]  
• 27 Preparation of annual budgets by Homes Victoria  

Division 2--Commonwealth–State–Northern Territory Housing Agreements

• 28A Definitions  
• 29 Ratification of Commonwealth–State–Northern Territory Housing Agreement 1981  
• 29A Ratification of 1984 Agreement  
• 30 Homes Victoria appointed agent for performance of Agreement  
• 31 Payment of money to Homes Victoria  

PART V--GENERAL

Division 1--Other powers of Homes Victoria

• 32 Ministerial control  
• 32A Homes Victoria may enter into joint ventures etc.  
• 32B Powers of Homes Victoria subsidiaries  
• 33 Homes Victoria may enter into agreements  
• 34 Agreements with municipal councils, regional housing councils and non-trading co‑operative  
• 35 Delegation  
• 36 Parking of vehicles  
• 36A Insurance[8]  

Division 2--Enforcement and miscellaneous provisions

• 37 Execution of documents  
• 38 Improper interest in contracts  
• 39 Personal liability of officers  
• 40 Giving false information  
• 41 Offences  
• 42 Directions as to prosecutions  
• 43 Service of documents  
• 44 Presumptions  
• 45 Jurisdiction of courts  

PART VII--STANDARDS OF HABITATION

• 62 Definitions[9]  
• 67 Alterations or demolition of house by Council  
• 68 Council may give notice requiring house to be and to remain unoccupied or requiring the occupier to vacate house  
• 68A Revocation of declaration[15], [16]  
• 71 Powers of entry  
• 72 Incorporation of Schedule 6  

PART VIII--THE REGISTRAR AND RENTAL HOUSING AGENCIES

Division 1--Introductory

• 73 Object of Part  

Division 2--The Registrar of Housing Agencies

• 74 The Registrar of Housing Agencies  
• 75 Term and conditions of appointment  
• 76 Termination of appointment  
• 77 Acting Registrar of Housing Agencies  
• 78 Creation of Registrar as body corporate  
• 79 Functions of Registrar  
• 80 Registrar to be subject to direction and control of Minister  

Division 3--Registration of rental housing agencies

• 81 Application for registration  
• 82 Approval for other functions  
• 83 Further information  
• 84 Registration  
• 85 Category of registration  
• 86 Refusal of registration  
• 87 Change of category of registration  
• 88 Application for review  

Division 4--Register of Housing Agencies

• 89 Establishment of Register  
• 90 What information is to be included in the Register?  
• 91 Changes to information recorded in the Register  
• 92 Searches of the Register  

Division 5--Duties and functions of registered agencies

• 93 Performance standards  
• 94 What can performance standards provide for?  
• 95 Registered agency to comply with performance standards  
• 96 Application to complaints  
• 97 Registered agency to establish complaints procedure  
• 98 Referral of complaints to Registrar  
• 99 Investigation of complaint  
• 100 Direction of Registrar  
• 101 Application for review  
• 102 Change to constitution or rules of agency  
• 103 Approval of changes to functions of registered agency  
• 104 Reports by registered agency  
• 105 Annual reports  
• 106 Declarations by registered agency  

Division 6--Powers of Homes Victoria in relation to registered agency land

• 107 Homes Victoria to have interest in certain registered agency land  
• 108 Registered agency to notify Homes Victoria of acquisition  
• 109 Consent of Homes Victoria required to transfer interest in land  
• 110 Interest may be recorded on title  
• 111 Interest of Homes Victoria to remain even if agency ceases to be registered agency  

Division 7--Monitoring of registered agencies

• 112 Registrar of Housing Agencies is an inspector  
• 113 Appointment of inspectors  
• 114 Inspector's identity card  
• 115 Production of identity card  
• 116 Inspectors may require certain persons to appear, answer questions and produce documents  
• 117 Inspector's powers of entry  
• 118 Search warrant  
• 119 Announcement before entry  
• 120 Details of warrant to be given to occupier  
• 121 Seizure of documents or things not mentioned in the warrant  
• 122 Power of inspector to require information or documents  
• 123 Functions of inspectors in relation to relevant documents  
• 124 Offence—failing to comply with requirements of inspector  
• 125 Protection from incrimination  
• 126 Privilege  
• 127 Report on investigation  
• 128 Secrecy  

Division 8--Powers of Registrar

• 129 Displacement of other laws  
• 130 When powers of Registrar may be exercised  
• 131 Registrar may recommend appointments to governing body of registered agency  
• 132 Registrar may give instructions to registered agency  
• 133 Duties of administrator  
• 134 Agency to notify Registrar of intention to wind up  
• 135 Registrar may indemnify certain persons  
• 136 Registrar may provide financial accommodation to registered agency  
• 137 Financial powers of Registrar  
• 138 Delegation by Registrar  
• 139 Application for review  
• 140 Application for enforcement  

Division 9--Revocation of registration

• 141 Revocation of registration  
• 142 Application for review  

PART VIIIA--SOCIAL HOUSING

Division 1--Victorian Housing Register

• 142A Establishment of Victorian Housing Register  
• 142B Form of Victorian Housing Register  
• 142C What information is to be included in the Victorian Housing Register?  
• 142D Changes to information recorded in the Victorian Housing Register  
• 142E Determinations made by Homes Victoria  
• 142F What is a participating designated service provider or participating registered agency?  
• 142G Authorisation to access the Victorian Housing Register  
• 142H Access to the Victorian Housing Register  

Division 2--Information sharing

• 142I Definitions  
• 142J Collection, use and disclosure of relevant information permitted in certain circumstances  

PART VIIIB--VICTORIAN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS

• 142JA VAHP declaration  
• 142JB Homes Victoria may make VAHP determination  
• 142JC Homes Victoria powers and functions regarding Victorian Affordable Housing Programs  

PART IX--REGULATIONS

• 143 Regulations  

PART X--TRANSITIONAL

• 144 Power to terminate existing leases  
• 145 Saving of housing finance provisions  
• 146 Advisory Board  
• 147 Amendment of Land Titles Register  
• 149 Change of names  
• SCHEDULE 1
• SCHEDULE 2
• SCHEDULE 3
• SCHEDULE 3A
• FIRST SCHEDULE
• SECOND SCHEDULE
• SCHEDULE 4
• SCHEDULE 5
• SCHEDULE 6
• SCHEDULE 7
• SCHEDULE 8
• SCHEDULE 9
ENDNOTES