The Blog - Burnham Real Estate

Dec 1, 2023

Hopkins Street and Moore Street intersection safety improvements

As part of the Safer Roads Safer Pedestrians Program, in partnership with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Vic Roads have improved safety at this busy Footscray intersection. The upgrade has made it safer and easier to navigate the intersection by installing new crossings, stopping points and traffic lights. Read further: Click here

Nov 30, 2023

Valid Rent Increase Notices - Are your increases invalid?

From REIV Agencies and Residential Rental Providers who fail to complete rent increase notices correctly may be at risk of having to reimburse any increased amounts to renters in the future by determination at VCAT. We urge all property management teams and administration staff to review their processes and practices in issuing notices of proposed rent increases to ensure alignment and compliance with the Victorian Residential Tenancies Act (Section 44) together with the Residential Tenancies Regulations (Regulation 21 & Form 5).Most importantly, the notice of proposed rent increase to the renter must document in detail the method by which the rent increase was calculated together with any calculations and/or comparable properties that were used by the agency or RRP to arrive at the proposed rental increase amount. Provide details of the process and calculation used to reach new rent amount. The rent increase cannot be greater than the amount calculated using the nominated method. Failure to include sufficient information is likely to deem the notice invalid.There are many cases being brought to VCAT for determination. VCAT sitting Members are making it very clear in as many as three (3) known cases where rent increase notices have been deemed invalid and orders to reinstate the former rent and directions to the RRP to return and rents paid in excess back to the renter.In the VCAT cases of, i). Asif v Jian Ding Property Pty Ltd (VCAT 1042), ii). Boyce v Mariella Nominees Pty Ltd (VCAT 89) and, iii). Kennedy v Pan (VCAT 529), it has consistently concurred and handed down similar determinations. The key points are: Ensure that the notice of rent increase includes sufficient information to enable the renters to not only answer the question as to why it is given, but also to determine whether the proposed rent is excessive and should be challenged. VCAT considers that a simple reference to a “Comparative Market Analysis” without further information about the properties that were used, their location or features, fails to satisfy the requirements of s 44(3)(b) that the method of calculation be provided, or the requirements of the prescribed form 5 (increase notice) by providing details of the process used for that method of calculation. VCAT considers that a simple reference to “CPI” with an absence of any calculating formula, adequate data and calculations does not enable the renters to make a proper assessment about the “reasonableness” of the increase. In the spirit of transparency, full disclosure, and mitigation of risk to any proposed rent increase notices being declared invalid, we urge all agencies and agents to provide much more information in all future notices. Agencies who feel that some of their recent notices issued to renters may be lite-on the detail may wish to consider retracting such notices and issuing new ones with the relevant information necessary to justify the rent increase.

Nov 30, 2023

Christmas Competition

Christmas activity for the kids! Have you entered in our Christmas colouring competition yet? If not, be sure to do so by the 19th of December! The prize is a $50 Jumpside Footscray gift card. You can download a colouring sheet from our website: LINK HERE Simply email us your art work to footscray@burnham.com.au or just drop by your lovely art work at our office. Burnham Real Estate 273 Barkly Street, Footscray 93 Station Rd, Deer Park

Oct 27, 2023

Halloween Competition

Halloween Drawing Competition - Win $50 Smiggle Voucher Get ready for a howling good time!Simply download the art work HERE or pick it up from our office.Once you have completed this, simply drop it to our office or take a photo and send it to us. You can email it at Footscray@burnham.com.au Send your entries by 1st November 2023273 Barkly Street, FootscrayRandom winner will be drawn and announced on our social media - Facebook and Instagram.

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Sep 1, 2023

Australia's most tightly held suburbs: Where people buy and never want to leave

Homeowners are holding onto properties for longer than ever, with new research revealing the suburbs where people buy and stay put for decades. With owners retaining properties for longer, options have become increasingly limited for buyers hoping to get a foothold in suburbs so desirable that people rarely sell. Click here to read further and find out how tightly held your suburb is.

Aug 20, 2023

Cranes Come Down As Hospital Goes Up In Footscray

Cranes have started coming down at the site of the Andrews Labor Government’s massive new Footscray Hospital – which for more than a year, was home to the most cranes in the Southern Hemisphere. To date, the project has seen more than 125,000 hours completed by apprentices, trainees or cadets, and more than 245,000 hours have been completed by disadvantaged Victorians. Once completed the new Footscray Hospital will treat almost 15,000 more patients and allow 20,000 extra people to be seen by the emergency department each year. See the full Media Release here.

Real Estate Prices

Jul 18, 2023

June Quarter 2023 Median Prices

Curious of Melbourne House Prices? Suburb by Suburb prices available here.

Feb 10, 2023

New Footscray Hospital Hits Major Milestone

The Andrews Labor Government is making major progress on Victoria’s biggest ever health infrastructure project to date – with the first three buildings of the new Footscray Hospital hitting structural completion. Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas today visited the site of the Labor Government’s newest hospital in Melbourne’s west to see the first three buildings now reaching their maximum height, and mark the project reaching its halfway point overall. As well as delivering world-class care to families in the growing western suburbs, these three buildings feature a new education and research centre for nurse training, research and learning that will be occupied by Victoria University’s Footscray Park campus and be accessible via a public-use pedestrian footbridge across Ballarat Road. Click HERE for more information.