Managing Rooming Houses

Manage rooming houses with clearer processes, safer practice and fewer grey areas.

Overview

Rooming houses can be some of the most complex environments to manage. Shared facilities, close living arrangements and high resident turnover can mean issues escalate quickly, with staff needing to make fast decisions that balance safety, fairness and legal obligations. Rooming houses also sit under specific provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act, with rules that differ from standard tenancies.

This practical online workshop provides clear guidance on day-to-day rooming house management. Participants will build confidence in applying the RTA, managing allocations and sign-ups, conducting inspections, monitoring arrears, and responding to incidents and resident conflict. The session also explores human rights considerations to support respectful, defensible decision-making.

Why this course matters

• Strengthen compliance with rooming house-specific RTA requirements

• Improve staff confidence in fast-moving and high-risk environments

• Reduce escalation by improving consistency in day-to-day management processes

• Support safer shared living arrangements through clearer incident responses

• Reduce complaints and disputes through fairer, more defensible decision-making

• Improve staff capability to balance safety, rights and operational requirements

What particpants will learn

• Key legal and practical differences between rooming house residencies and standard tenancies

• Clear processes for allocations, sign-ups and resident entry documentation

• Inspection and monitoring approaches suited to shared facility environments

• Practical strategies for managing arrears and responding early to payment issues

• Incident response options for conflict, safety concerns and challenging behaviour

• How to apply breaches and compliance pathways appropriately in rooming houses

• Human rights considerations when managing resident behaviour and enforcement actions

• Tools for creating safer, more predictable shared-living environments

Who should attend

• Rooming House Managers and Operators

• Housing Officers and Tenancy Practitioners working in rooming house settings

• Property and Compliance Staff supporting shared facilities

• Support Workers and Community Housing Staff based onsite

• Team Leaders and Managers overseeing rooming house operations

• Staff responsible for incident management and resident engagement

Organisational benefits

• Improved compliance and reduced legal risk in rooming house operations

• Stronger incident management and safety processes

• Increased staff confidence in complex resident behaviour situations

• More consistent documentation and defensible decision-making

• Improved resident outcomes through clearer expectations and fairer processes

What participants will receive

• Practical tools for rooming house decision-making and day-to-day management

• Guidance on applying relevant RTA provisions in shared living settings

• Incident response strategies and process checklists

• Reflection activities to support consistent workplace practice
  
  
  
  

  

  Facilitator - Charlotte Timmermans

  Charlotte has 15 years’ experience in both the private and community housing sector. She is passionate about social justice and working to provide access to safe and affordable housing for all. Her experience in community housing includes front-line tenancy management and leading a team to deliver supportive housing programs, including the Homelessness to Home and Homes for Families Programs.

  At CHIA Vic, Charlotte helps community housing organisations by providing practice guidance, coordinating peer learning, and creating practical resources to support continual service improvement.