RETIREMENT VILLAGES This is just an opinion on the Retirement Villages Act and Regulations together with the enforcement of. Don't believe that villages are independent living, that you will be treated equally and will retain your self reliance and autonomy. "Aging in place" a fallacy as it is independent living NOT As far as a tribunal goes, don't think that a tribunal is a layman's way of sorting out what a contract says, how it is explained by operators or enforced or lack of enforcement by the OFAW. Be prepard to read and understand the SACAT Act before considering going forward. It maybe better, cheaper, going to a Civil Court? I thought I put forward a good case with around 900 pages evidence of what has happened over 17 years. Knowing that SACAT restrictions are placed at 4 years. In my opinion the Lifestyle village operator put forward nothing in writing, to back up their often hearsay statements.  They certainly did not send representatives that knew or could answer questions as directed by a "directions hearing". It took over 12 months to go through the process and to get to a full hearing. The operator in my opinion did not need a lawyer... as the senior SACAT member presented all the arguments on behalf of the operator and made a decision on his arguments. The internal review and second hearing was in my opinion handled far better but the outcome was still based on the first hearing's arguments put forward by the SACAT member. I did finally get some answers about the running and finances of Lifestyle villages. SACAT did recognise my PID in full as a contract, contrary to the OFAW interpretation. The Retirement Villages Act and Regulations allow by the SACAT order/decisions that...... operators can have incorrect minutes or refuse to answer with no consequences. - That the operator does and can charge for the full running costs of their head office, that is used primarily for sales. Divides this cost between all 11 villages, with no explanations, or if cost of one village are being charge to another village and calls it "management fees". Charged and paid for by residents. - That the operator does use the village office, staff, equipment and utilities at no charge, for sales again. All paid for by residents. - Then of course there are the exit fees for the sale of units when a resident leaves. That can add up to about half of the resale price. That means operators have ZERO operating costs, are charging twice, sometimes 3 times for fees related to sales of units, that are not maintained, as one would expect by the advertising and verbal communication at point of sale. My suggestion is, get everything in writing, otherwise it means nothing and if in writing is still open to legal interpretation and arguments. Again, in my opinion, don't waste time or money going to SACAT. In cases of retirement villages you will need a specialist barrister in dealing with contracts, the Retirement Villages Act and Regulations and SACAT Act. You are far better, with far less restrictions going to a Civil Court and spending money on a barrister that specialises in contracts. Forget the Retirement Villages Act, Regulations and OFAW.... the important thing is a signed contract that should be initialled by all parties on every page. In my opinion. Because SACAT found that the operator has done nothing wrong. Now the operator is refusing to do maintenance or answer any AGM questions. SACAT decided that a contract, lease agreement can be changed, without any consultation. To my understanding of the law any alteration AT ALL no matter how small needs all parties to agree and sign off on those changes. All now supported by the OFAW Retirement Villages Unit who by screwing up caused the problems to start with. Retirement Villages, Lifestyle Villages are a total scam in my opinion. “If you make more money doing it than it costs to get caught for doing it, continue doing it"

I'm so frustrated with SACAT as we went there for get help and the tribunal member just defend the agent. We lodged the complain for tribunal hearing. At the tribunal hearing tribunal member A Hunter from the beginning he didn't care our evidences or what we said he defend the landlord with agent. We lodged all the previous complains as well. He has mentioned incorrect information in Tribunal order as we didn't lodge that with original application. We got nothing and he just dismissed the application. We had so much inconvenience with this current tenancy. We are landlords as well we never treat our tenants this way. We want to review Tribunal order but have to pay $557 we are not going to pay that much money on this useless people. My advice is don't waste money on this people to get help regarding your tenancy you won't get nothing just waste of money and time and also so much depression. Best thing go to courts straightaway. Tribunal members may know agents and landlords as they always visit SACAT and help each other.

18 months of adjournments and they granted the landlords a lawyer for all hearings. Unsure how this is procedural fairness when as a tenant who has lost everything they own and left homeless due to landlords lack of maintenance, tenant clearly cannot afford a lawyer. They allowed landlords lawyer to dominate all hearings by time wasting and stretch out proceedings for what will be 2 years by the time we have our final determination. I am still waiting for my bond back from my proven 7 year immaculate tenancy. Facts outlaid in near 1800 pages of documents and SACAT still listener to landlords lawyer lie under oath. I hope when final determination comes it is shown to be fairer than how I have been treated throughout the past 18 months of multiple hearings and adjournments. Many extra delays due to landlords, landlords lawyers and tribunal members going on holidays, where as a tenant I am disadvantaged by everyone else's situations.

so sacat make many claims about a person & it will be believed, even a neuropsych assessment you didn't pass will be believed yet most people wouldn't be able to pass these things, apparently you need a uni or college degree to be considered 'normal', fail the test & you apparently have a mental illness or incapacity, disgusting the way they treat people...and the guardianship 'special powers' order gets removed but guardian is still given special powers to force you where they want you to live without you having any say & they expect you to give up all your personal belongings by forcing you into SIL shared housing with strangers you don't even know, even though you have always lived independantly & can't live with others, wrongfully be given a guardian but sacat don't care, the rules always go in their favour of course...absolutely disgusting

SACAT is biased towards landlords and Real Estate Agencies. I went with all required evidence member even had landlord admitting to breaches rocking up at my house unannounced with pictures and still I got nothing. Absolutely biased and a flawed system. Landlords and real estate agencies can do what they like. The system needs to be looked at. The member I had was a . Landlord was extremely rude to her saying get on with it woman and was warned she still went in his favour. I tried to say after she dismisses my claims that I don't agree with it it's the wrong decision she threatened to have me thrown out by security. I I was being nice and respectful the whole way through. Forget it you will get nowhere you are better of getting legal help and doing it another way. I'll name and shame the member soon i forget her name.

If you are a landlord and your trying to remove a tenant causing damage, don’t waste your time, even after writing a complaint I get a response that does nothing but suggest I pay further cash to this useless organisation, very disappointing. I am sure that the member who declined to call me after two changes in time for a hearing and I couldn’t make the third but they declined to make it at a time I could attend won’t cover the cost for repairs. This organisation does nothing but take your money and fail to hear you, so my suggestion would be don’t invest in property and don’t waste your time or money with this organisation!!! Had to give them one star certainly don’t deserve it. Thanks for wasting my time and taking my money. Suppose you have to justify your existence somehow.

BEWARE. Especially if you are a long standing Housing SA tenant, with a perfect tenancy record. I was told I was going to have a hearing with SACAT via a regional manager, who was recently fired & another housing officer. But both the manager & officer somehow sneakily managed to not include me in the hearing, which I now know was illegal, thanks to seeking legal advice. I'm now taking legal action against all parties involved. Not only that, but the staff at SACAT quite obviously need to update how they treat civilians, especially in regards with respect, decency and tone. Ps, ALWAYS RECORD ALL CONTACT WITH SACAT OR HOUSING SA STAFF, IT CERTAINLY PAYS OFF !

The safeguard unit provided the tribunal with extremely incorrect information , the tribunal was also given all the correct testable information and more, but had no interest in being corrected and went ahead and made their decision from very obvious incorrect information . Procedural fairness does not exist in the sacat system , morals or simple human decency are defiantly not welcome or considered ! You will be denied even a simple and basic level of common sense and you will lose any hope of involvement in anything they decide they want to take control of ! Right or wrong is no concern to sacat bottom line !

My sister robyn robbins is stealing money from my elderly mother with dementia. I went to sacat to have her revoked as exector of mums will and power of attorney. Robyn abuses my mother contastanly. A phonehear was set up for today. I was told it wasn't going to go ahead because I didn't have a medical report from mums doctor .I tried but couldn't get it.i was also told they did not do administrative cases. This is such a lie. I have gone to the advertiser to bring this out inthe open hopefully they will do a storyabout them .

"The Tribunal does not have to follow the rules of evidence and can take evidence in whatever manner it thinks fit [South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (SA) s 39]." Land agent lies, after affirming it would be the truth, tribunal member agrees there has been breaches from the beginning of the tenancy and yet the tenant still walks away with stuff all. Utter incompetence from member H Ward. Save your time and energy because they don't follow the rules of evidence and it is a completely illogical process.

It seems the Member for SACAT has taken previous remarks to bear and completely ignored a Tenants cry for help due to a serious health hazard within the rental property. How disgusting for a Commissioner to completely ignore the risk to life and force the Tenant to pay an extra 2 weeks rent after vacating the premises. No wonder tenants do not pay the last 6 weeks rent to ensure the Bond is returned through that avenue. Obviously the Commissioner has favourites like the dirty scumbag Taylor from Taylor's realty.

I paid to put in a complaint about tenants next door to me. About the noise they continually make which is very load revving of a motor bike. I have paid thousands for a house. Renter's move in and i have to prove how it has impacted my life. So it seam renter's have more rights than home owner. Took my money then told me basically I dont have enough evidence. So i withdraw the complaint. So it still cost me a fee to be told this information. So if you have problems with neighbours, they have more rights.

Decisions made by government - Don’t waste your time with SACAT due to the fact they have the highest incompetency level in making their own decisions. Any thing you say or any evidence you provide will be ignored in the final outcome. They choose the easiest decision for them to make by ignoring anything you say or any evidence provided and agreeing with the original decision maker. Do NOT waste 6 months like I had too, For them to provide no reasoning for their decision.

Don't get your hopes up about revoking your guardianship or administration orders as they will not accept your evidence whatsoever. However, I will say this: It very depends on the evidence they accept, i.e. my brothers only recourse left is to use bank statements. These guys will except some form evidence in regards to your psychological health, so, don't just tell them to revoke your orders, you have to abide by what they say within a time period.

The tribunal is a place for siphoning renters bond to the hands of the real estate agent, or the public trustee. Or to the rich. In my cases, first the decision was not explained, in the second case, the lawyer, a land holder and rental property owner drove his agenda " your not asking for for compensation are you ??" At last there is an anticorruption authority in SA and I'll be writing to them the the conduct of Sacat.

I just could not believe how unfair the tribunal hearing is. The agent lied in the room, instead question the agent, the tribunal blamed me for pointing out the lie. Unbelievable!!! We have lost all our confidence to the tribunal, and they charge nearly $600 for review, which means, when they make unfair decision, bad luck for you if you could not afford $600. I definitely think court is a better way .

Extremely useless organization. They allowed landlord charge tenant $500 cleaning fee for a just 35sqm unit !! This is extremely unreasonable!! There was no any punishment for landlord who didn’t lodged the bond and didn’t provide any inspection sheets. Landlord provided a fake cleaning invoice and Sacat just don’t care. They don’t even care my explanation and evidence! What a fair place!

Very dissappointed with the way the hearing was run. Disgusted with how the member spoke to myself as the landlord and ex tenant. The members need to be made more responsible for their rulings and at least have some legal knowledge of the case they are hearing. Would have reported the member running the hearing if i wasnt so busy making ends met!

On the contrary. The agent promised to have someone move in when I left but I end up repaying 1000 on a pension. This was after I was told my lease wasn't being renewed because I asked for either a secutity door or a peep hole for safety reasons. I sent all this info in with my application for the release of the bond and all was ignored.

I can only say that you are speaking to a bunch of robots who can't think for themselves. SACAT facilitates abusive bully landlords to drag matters out potentially indefinitely even though there's supposed to be a 28 day time limit. Once that application has lapsed, landlords can lodge bond disputes months after the end of the tenancy.

Only on the tenants side I now have a trashed house Holes in every wall Rent owing Water bills outstanding And I had to pay $85 each time to try recoup my rent and now will pay $85 to apply for her bond I wanted her out they said no even though it was weeks since the lease expired in those last few weeks is when the house was damaged

Unreasonable procedure from SACAT. Cerrianne the senior community access office contacting the office multiple times during non-business hour on a public holiday and she and her client complaint about no one answer their calls. Really unreasonable for them to complaint and expect the business receive the calls in non- business hours.

Absolutely pathetic. The most disorganised, useless department of the public service. They think they are a law unto themselves and will not be held accountable for their actions. Contact the Premiers office directly with your concerns and have them recommend a department to contact to get justice. Public Service?

SACAT work for a businesses they have internal understanding, as I have been asked to sit outside for 10mins and everything changed , These agents are paying them feeding them , please dont trust them they not for normal people they are for the Businesses . Don't get caught up or you . will lose money

The second dealing with the tribunal and absolutely disappointed.. a case of clear tenant damage to property. Member unable to maintain focus on the application. If you can avoid this process do so it is not fair or just or professional. It’s a waste of time mediating with stupidity.

Thieves and happy to overlook admitted breaks of the law. Completely corrupt. Pay and make another claim. Just after a payday. Also sent out confidential medical records to the other party. Apparently a message of ‘disregard’ makes up for that. Incompetent on a multitude of levels.

I was really worried heading into this place as the previous reviews did not install confidence. I would like to thank Mr A Files as in my case he was very understanding of my situation and sorted out a very reasonable case for myself. Thank you Mr Files thank you so much.

Reviewed my case in a timely manner and sent the best Lawyer for my case. Thank you SACAT for helping every South Australian you can. If only you had a bigger team to assist then we would all get help in a timely manner. Much love and appreciation. Thank you ✌️

5 stars to sacat, in particular to my dealing registrars for seeing through the greedy, grasping property owners ridiculous behavior for trying to gouge my bond. The process cost my partner and myself plenty of time but fairness and reason triumphed in the end.

The tribunal member didn't act like a judge, and more like a tenant's defendant lawyer. You dont deserve even one star. Joanne Bakas(Tribunal member), you deserve 5 stars, of course, that from you client - tenant! I will feel guilty conscience if i were you.

What an absolute shambles of a place. Was told to email document, which i did. Then when I asked to bring them up, said had no relevance. Absolutely disgusted with my so called whatever she was and will be appealing to the high court

I was at the SACAT office a few days ago having difficulties lodging an application the assistance given me by Maggie and Joe (I hope I've remembered their names correctly) Was outstanding. It was professional courteous Thanks Team

Finally, Diptee and the staff at the back are getting organised. I actually have seen a minor change in service. I can not believe I am writing this. One of the staff actually called me sir. Regards Rob de Jonge.

Dont waste your time ..sides with the agents at all costs ..doesn't take evidence from tenants seriously...a complete waste of time and the most unfair judiciary system in South Australia

Bias against landlords. Absolutely the worst. Landlord protect yourself at all cost, the tribunal is unprofessional with untrained staff and the worst place to get any natural justice.

Don’t waste your time with SACAT due to the fact they have the highest incompetency level in making their own decisions. They don't how to protect landlord right.

As a Property Manager we have always relied on SACAT for their fair treatment of tenants and landlords. Their transactions are processed really quickly.

I believe strongly that they are improving. The staff called me "Sir" the other day. Well done.

Absolutely useless responses. Why don't you help people and protect them from awful land lords?

If you have a mental health order in place for a hearing its probably better if you don't go.

If you’re a tenant, don’t expect a “fair” hearing, it’s just waste of time and money!

Has anyone gone to the district court about how they were treaded by sacat? And won

You can pay to learn how to be double-standarded in a legal and professional way.

This is a extremely corrupt organisation and anyone involved should be hung

Known to telephone register as Annie Home Sales....

I heard that the chief boss man had laingazzz

Very disappointed to Unfair Judgement.

One star is already overrated, useless

Absolute shambles of an organisation.

Kylie was very helpful.

Absolutely useless!

They a very helpful

Great service...

Very helpful