Accommodation

Under Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act, it is against the law to treat someone unfairly when providing accommodation. This includes sexual harassment.

What does accommodation cover?

Accommodation covers:

houses
flats
hotel/motel rooms
boarding houses
hostels
caravans/caravan sites
camping sites
mobile homes and mobile home sites
offices

How can discrimination in accommodation happen?

If it is based on a personal characteristic protected by law, discrimination may include:

refusing a rental application, e.g. refusing to rent to someone because she is a single parent;
changing rental terms, e.g. because a tenant is under 18;
refusing or limiting accommodation benefits, e.g. refusing access to a swimming pool to a tenant who is HIV positive.;
refusing to continue to provide accommodation;
changing the terms of a lease;
any other unfair treatment when providing accommodation.

It is also against the law to:

refuse accommodation to a person with a vision, hearing or mobility disability because they have a guide dog;
require that a guide dog be kept away from accommodation;
charge extra for a guide dog.

Are there any exceptions?

There are some exceptions to the law covering accommodation.

What about accommodation for people with disabilities?

Under the Equal Opportunity Act, a person with a disability may make "reasonable" changes to accommodation to meet their needs as long as:

they pay for the alterations;
the alterations don't lead to changes to another occupier's premises;
it is "reasonably practicable under the circumstances" to restore the accommodation to its original condition; and
they agree to restore the accommodation to its previous condition and it is reasonably likely that they will do so.

Accommodation

What does accommodation cover?

How can discrimination in accommodation happen?

Are there any exceptions?

What about accommodation for people with disabilities?

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