It’s a scenario every commercial landlord dreads. A tenant defaults on rent, the lease is terminated, and upon re-entering the premises, you discover a warehouse full of the tenant’s property. Faced with significant financial losses, the temptation to seize those assets—to hold them as leverage or sell them to recoup unpaid rent—can be overwhelming. However,...
It’s a scenario becoming all too common across Victoria: a landlord and tenant sign what appears to be a standard commercial lease. All seems well for years until a dispute arises, or the tenant, facing rising costs, makes a startling claim: the lease is, in fact, a retail lease governed by the Retail Leases Act...
Introduction: A Game-Changing Decision for Victorian Retirement Housing On 7 July 2025, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) President Justice Ted Woodward delivered a landmark ruling that fundamentally challenges the business model underpinning Victoria’s land lease community sector. In proceedings brought by over 80 residents of the Wollert Lifestyle Community against Lifestyle Management 2 Pty...
