2025 Haven Home Safe (HHS) renter survey
We want to provide our renters with the best possible experience. To do this, we need renter feedback to understand what we are doing well and where we can improve. Â
The survey will be launched on April 28th. All renters will receive communication via email and text messages with survey links and reminders from the Community Housing Industry Association, NSW (CHIA NSW), who are managing the survey on Haven Home Safe’s behalf.
All survey answers will be anonymous. We want renters to feel comfortable sharing all their opinions and experiences.  The survey will be open (until July 4th).
HHS Maintenance will be prioritising urgent repairs only from March through to June
Due to a high volume of maintenance requests, there will be a delay for non-urgent requests compared to our usual response timeframe. Non-urgent maintenance requests will be scheduled from July 2025 onwards. Urgent requests will continue to be responded to in the appropriate timeframes and in line with the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). We understand this is frustrating and will work with you (our renters) to keep you informed as soon as we’re able to schedule your request.
House fire safety
Most house fires are preventable and as a renter there are many things you can do to keep yourself and your family safe from fire. We have added a series of tips to our website to help you identify common mistakes you can avoid.
New homes in Robinvale, Ararat and Ballarat
We are proud to share that since our last newsletter we have built a further 27 homes for renters in regional Victoria to move into.
- Robinvale – 13 new homes (5 x 3-bedroom and 8 x 2-bedroom) learn more here
- Ararat – 9 new homes (6 x 2-bedroom, 3 x 3-bedroom) learn more here
- Ballarat – 5 new homes (4 x 1-bedroom, 1 x 3-bedroom) learn more here
Championing affordable housing: Our CEO advocates for renters in Canberra
In February our Haven Home Safe CEO Trudi Ray joined over 20 other CEOs from the Community Housing sector across Australia to speak with political representatives in Canberra about the important role housing affordability will play in this year’s election.
Armed with data collected by redbridge (who polled 1,500 people across 24 of the most contestable electorates) they delivered a compelling case.
Trudi and the leaders were equipped with solutions to show the 60 political leaders they met with to actively work towards solving these challenges and priorities of Australians.
Saving money by reducing your energy use
While bill costs can make you think twice about cooling down or heating up your home, there are some small things you can do to try and keep your home a comfortable temperature without increasing your bills.
- Shutting doors and using blinds: by creating sectioned areas of the home, hot and cold air can be controlled easier.
- Set your air conditioner to 23 degrees or higher to maximise energy efficiency and comfort. And turn off air conditioning when you’re not home.
- Use door seals and stoppers to prevent hot or cold air creeping in.
- Compare your electricity and gas providers. The Victorian Government has access to a comparative tool to help ensure you are paying the best price for energy. Visit Welcome – Victorian Energy Compare for more information.
You can view more tips to help you save money and the environment here.
Local support brings playground back to life
There was much laughter and joy at Haven Home Safe’s Sidney Myer Haven playground thanks to generous donations from the Kangaroo Flat Rotary Club, Lisa Chesters MP and a grant from the City of Greater Bendigo.
The playground had been closed for some time due to ageing equipment and landscaping, however with more funding support, Haven Home Safe has been able to rejuvenate the space and bring additional joy to the residents’ children.
You can learn more about this here:
Local support brings playground back to life – Haven Home Safe
