Dear Residents of Unilodge,

Many of the residents at UniLodge Royal Melbourne has received an email from the UniLodge, requesting them to sign the UniLodge Handbook and Orientation Acknowledgement Form.

On behalf of all the residents, we have sent an email to UniLodge enquiring as to why we need to sign these additional documents considering:

·        Many of us have been residing at Unilodge Royal Melbourne over the past 6 months and are way past the orientation phase.

·        Clause 46 of UniLodge Royal Melbourne's Residential Tenancy Agreement, clearly mentions that Tenants should have received before entering into the occupation of the premises the following:

1.      Two copies of the condition report

2.      A copy of the “renting a home guide for Tenant(s)”

3.      An online copy of the Unilodge handbook.  A hardcopy is available for perusal at reception.

Unilodge should have provided us with the Handbook along with our Residential Tenancy Agreement prior to residents moving into the premises but they have not. The residents of Unilodge Royal Melbourne are not accountable for Unilodge’s negligence. We are now in the middle of our term and UniLodge cannot possibly be asking us at this stage to sign additional documents that bind us further to a new set of conditions and policies.

·     It doesn’t state anywhere in our Residential Tenancy Agreement that signing the  Orientation Acknowledgment Form is a mandatory requirement. In fact, on page 3 of our lease agreement, there is a provision for additional attachments, however, Unilodge has not specified any additional documents to be signed by the residents in conjunction with our lease agreement.

Also, we are aware that there are discrepancies between the terms and conditions stated in our lease agreement and the UniLodge Handbook regarding the Termination of Tenancy Agreement, specified on page 13. Please have a look at it and identify those discrepancies for your reference. Also note that asking us to sign the Unilodge Handbook and the Orientation Acknowledgement Form now is in direct conflict to our petition, especially relating to our request for the early termination.

We think it is best to wait and not sign any additional documents until we get a further response from UniLodge about our query and petition. Unilodge has acknowledged on 7th of April via email that they have received our petition. We are expecting to hear from them by Monday, the 13th of April. By signing these documents, we think you will bind yourself to a new set of conditions and policies that may make the process of early termination harder. However, you are free to do whatever you like should you think otherwise.

We are also in the process of creating a private Facebook account where you can get further support from other residents and not feel alone during this rather uncertain and difficult time. Should you wish to join the Facebook group, please send us an email on residents.unilodge@gmail.com and we can add you to the group.

Hope you are coping well and staying safe.

Best wishes,

Residents of Unilodge Royal Melbourne and UniLodge Lincoln House