Council Registration

Every rooming house premises with the relevant local council in accordance with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. Under this Act, a rooming house is classified as prescribed accommodation, not to be confused with definitions under planning or building legislation. This distinction means registration with council is separate from building permits or operator licensing.

Here's a structured summary of their responsibilities:

Council’s Role in Rooming House Registration
1. Registration of Prescribed Accommodation
  • Councils are responsible for registering rooming houses under the category of prescribed accommodation.
  • Owners/operators must apply to their local council before commencing operations.
  • Registration must be renewed annually, and fees vary by municipality.
2. Inspection & Compliance
  • Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) conduct initial and routine inspections to ensure compliance with:
    • Minimum standards for hygiene, maintenance, and safety
    • Adequate sanitary and laundry facilities
    • Proper ventilation, lighting, and pest control
  • Councils can issue improvement notices or prohibition orders if standards are not met.
3. Education & Support
  • Councils often provide guidance materials and advisory services to help operators understand their obligations.
  • They may collaborate with Consumer Affairs Victoria and other agencies to promote best practices.
4. Record-Keeping & Enforcement
  • Councils maintain a register of prescribed accommodation within their jurisdiction.
  • They have the authority to enforce penalties for unregistered or non-compliant rooming houses.
  • Serious breaches may be referred to VCAT or other regulatory bodies for further action.

Whether you are the owner or operator may impact on who is undertaking the registration with council. Commercial operators often prefer that the owner registers the property, so they are responsible for ensuring the property meets the minimum standards. Either way, ensure you discuss this and document it in your contract agreement.

Council contact details are available on the  Find a council page on the Know your council website