Ingenia Communities to pay $1.5M over non-compliance

On 22 September 2025, the ASX-listed operator of land lease communities, rental communities and holiday parks stated it was under investigation by the Victorian consumer regulator.

The business said it was under investigation by Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) over potential breaches of rental regulations at its seven Victorian Ingenia Gardens Over 55s rental communities.

Today (Monday, 18 May), Ingenia Communities said after co-operating with CAV and undertaking a review of its compliance obligations regarding the installation of cooktops in the relevant Ingenia Gardens communities, the business has entered into an enforceable undertaking with CAV relating to breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic) and potential breaches of Australian Consumer Law (Vic).

The Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria, Nicole Rich, was concerned "the processes were systematic, large-scale and affected those who were vulnerable and financially disadvantaged, denying them of renters' rights."

The non-compliance involved units in the rental communities of Ingenia Gardens in Victoria not being supplied with cooking facilities over the period from March 2021 to May 2026, Ingenia Communities said in an update to the ASX.

Inspections by CAV’s Renting Taskforce found many units did not have cooktops and rental agreements prohibited renters from cooking at home. Ingenia Gardens instead offered renters paid meal plans at an additional cost. Not having cooktops in a rental property is a breach of Victoria’s rental minimum standards.

Ingenia Communities has agreed:

• Residents who resided in units without cooktops will be paid $15.89 per week of occupation as compensation for the period they were without cooking facilities, as well as a lump sum of $50 in recognition of the frustration and denial of their rights, with the total cost of compensation anticipated not to exceed $1.5 million;
• Ingenia Communities has also agreed to pay a sum of $100,000 to the Housing for the Aged Action Group, which first raised the issue with CAV; and
• Contribute $1 million to the Victorian Consumer Law Fund.

Ingenia must also report to CAV every six months to demonstrate it’s improving its properties to meet minimum standards and must remove unfair contract terms stopping people cooking in their own home. The company may be audited for compliance at any time. 

"Ingenia has completed a remediation program by providing cooktops to impacted properties to meet Ingenia's rental standards obligations, working closely with residents to do this safely and efficiently," said Ingenia's statement.

Read Consumer Affairs Victoria's statement and the enforceable undertaking