Hello,

We have sent the following email to ULH and URM re the petition:

To Unilodge,

This is a Petition launched by the residents of Unilodge Royal Melbourne and Unilodge Lincoln House on 30th March 2020 concerning recent changes to our housing services in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Petition, which has received 248 signatures across both Unilodge properties (and counting), addresses three issues:

a.      Proportionate reduction in rent amount given the reduction in services

b.      Lack of safety precautions taken by Unilodge

c.      Allowing residents to terminate their lease agreements early without incurring any financial penalties given the exceptional circumstances.

Since we launched the Petition, we are pleased to observe two significant developments at Unilodge Lincoln House:

1. Unilodge is now allowing residents to terminate their lease agreements early without any financial penalty, excluding standard cleaning costs.

2. Unilodge has started providing hand sanitisers and handwash/soaps in communal areas and bathrooms for the use of residents. Yet, there are still some washrooms without handwash.

However, Unilodge has not:

1.      Reduced the rent amount for residents continuing to live in Unilodge Lincoln House and Royal Melbourne despite a wholesale cut in services since 26th March 2020, including access to all common areas (barring the communal kitchen in Lincoln House). This not only alters the nature of the product sold by Unilodge but results in cramping of the kitchen space which defeats the WHO prescribed protocol of social distancing.

2.      Allowed residents of Unilodge Royal Melbourne to terminate their lease agreements without charging them financial penalties, even though the same team manages both Unilodge Lincoln House and Unilodge Royal Melbourne. We find this discrepancy in the treatment of residents baffling, and incongruous with Unilodge’s image as a socially responsible corporation which ‘cares for those in their trust’.  

We ask you to address the following issues immediately:

1.      Reduce the rent proportionate to the reduction in services effective from 26th March 2020. Furthermore, the rent amount charged since 26th March 2020 towards payment for communal services should either be refunded or credited to the accounts of residents towards payment for future rent payments.

2.      Ensure that each communal washroom has adequate handwash.

3.      Allow residents of both Unilodge Royal Melbourne and Unilodge Lincoln House to terminate their lease agreements early without any financial penalty due to the global pandemic.

We would like a response from the Unilodge regarding the aforementioned issues in the next five business days. The residents would like to know where they stand with respect to their current housing services in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and take further action if necessary.

Looking forward to your response.

Warm regards,

Residents of Unilodge Royal Melbourne and Unilodge Lincoln House

We have also sent a separate email thanking the staff and workers for all their hard work during this difficult time. We must not forget that these individuals put themselves at risk while keeping these establishments running, and the petition is directed at Unilodge the corporation, not these individuals.