Compliant planning for Victorian Retirement Villages
Victoria Retirement Village Capital Maintenance Plans
Preparing for the Victorian Retirement Village Reforms
From 1 May 2026, new Victorian retirement village legislation requires operators to adopt a more structured and transparent approach to capital maintenance planning.
At the centre of these changes is a mandatory 10-year Capital Maintenance Plan (CMP), requiring operators to clearly define their assets, forecast future works, and support those decisions with reliable data.
MDFM supports retirement village operators to develop practical, compliant and defensible capital maintenance plans, aligned with both legislative requirements and operational realities.
What is a Capital Maintenance Plan?
A Capital Maintenance Plan is a forward-looking framework that sets out how a village’s assets will be maintained over time.
It identifies the key assets across the village, assesses their current condition, and establishes when maintenance or replacement works will be required. Importantly, it also provides a clear view of the expected costs and the assumptions used to support those forecasts.
At its core, the plan needs to answer four key questions:
- What assets exist and who is responsible for them
- What condition they are in today
- When maintenance or replacement will be required
- What those works are expected to cost
What Has Changed in Victoria?
The Victorian reforms introduce a more structured and accountable approach to capital maintenance planning.
Operators are now required to prepare a detailed 10-year plan and take clearer responsibility for the capital assets within the village. There is also a stronger focus on transparency, with greater visibility of planning assumptions and outcomes provided to residents.
In practice, this represents a shift away from high-level forecasting toward more evidence-based planning, supported by condition data and clearly documented assumptions.
Annual Safety Inspection Requirements
The reforms also reinforce the importance of ongoing safety management.
Operators must carry out a formal safety inspection each year and prepare a written report outlining the findings. Residents must be informed when inspections have been completed, and the report must be made available on request.
These requirements sit alongside broader obligations relating to emergency planning and evacuation procedures, forming part of a more integrated compliance framework.
What a Compliant Plan Requires
A compliant Capital Maintenance Plan is built on a small number of core foundations. These typically include a reliable asset register, consistent condition assessments, defined lifecycle assumptions and a clear long-term view of capital requirements.
Just as important is how the plan is documented. The methodology, inputs and assumptions need to be clearly set out so the plan can be understood, tested and, where required, defended.
How MDFM Supports Victorian Operators
MDFM provides end-to-end support to help operators establish a clear and usable capital planning framework.
In practice, this typically involves:
- Establishing a reliable asset baseline through structured audits and data capture
- Applying condition-based assessments and lifecycle modelling
- Developing a practical 10-year capital maintenance plan tailored to each village
Our focus is on producing plans that are not only compliant, but practical to maintain and use as part of ongoing operations. Where required, outputs can also be aligned with existing asset management systems.
Why Early Preparation Matters
The Victorian reforms increase both compliance expectations and financial accountability.
A well-structured Capital Maintenance Plan provides greater visibility of future capital requirements, supports more informed financial decision-making, and strengthens an operator’s ability to demonstrate compliance.
Taking the time to establish the right foundations now will make it significantly easier to manage these requirements over time.
Talk to MDFM
MDFM works with retirement village and aged care providers across Australia to support asset management, capital planning and compliance.
If you’re preparing for the Victorian reforms or reviewing your broader approach to capital planning, now is a practical time to take stock.
Get in touch for an obligation-free discussion.
Other services
Preparing for the Victorian Retirement Village Reforms
From 1 May 2026, new Victorian retirement village legislation requires operators to adopt a more structured and transparent approach to capital maintenance planning.
At the centre of these changes is a mandatory 10-year Capital Maintenance Plan (CMP), requiring operators to clearly define their assets, forecast future works, and support those decisions with reliable data.
MDFM supports retirement village operators to develop practical, compliant and defensible capital maintenance plans, aligned with both legislative requirements and operational realities.
What is a Capital Maintenance Plan?
A Capital Maintenance Plan is a forward-looking framework that sets out how a village’s assets will be maintained over time.
It identifies the key assets across the village, assesses their current condition, and establishes when maintenance or replacement works will be required. Importantly, it also provides a clear view of the expected costs and the assumptions used to support those forecasts.
At its core, the plan needs to answer four key questions:
- What assets exist and who is responsible for them
- What condition they are in today
- When maintenance or replacement will be required
- What those works are expected to cost
What Has Changed in Victoria?
The Victorian reforms introduce a more structured and accountable approach to capital maintenance planning.
Operators are now required to prepare a detailed 10-year plan and take clearer responsibility for the capital assets within the village. There is also a stronger focus on transparency, with greater visibility of planning assumptions and outcomes provided to residents.
In practice, this represents a shift away from high-level forecasting toward more evidence-based planning, supported by condition data and clearly documented assumptions.
Annual Safety Inspection Requirements
The reforms also reinforce the importance of ongoing safety management.
Operators must carry out a formal safety inspection each year and prepare a written report outlining the findings. Residents must be informed when inspections have been completed, and the report must be made available on request.
These requirements sit alongside broader obligations relating to emergency planning and evacuation procedures, forming part of a more integrated compliance framework.
What a Compliant Plan Requires
A compliant Capital Maintenance Plan is built on a small number of core foundations. These typically include a reliable asset register, consistent condition assessments, defined lifecycle assumptions and a clear long-term view of capital requirements.
Just as important is how the plan is documented. The methodology, inputs and assumptions need to be clearly set out so the plan can be understood, tested and, where required, defended.
How MDFM Supports Victorian Operators
MDFM provides end-to-end support to help operators establish a clear and usable capital planning framework.
In practice, this typically involves:
- Establishing a reliable asset baseline through structured audits and data capture
- Applying condition-based assessments and lifecycle modelling
- Developing a practical 10-year capital maintenance plan tailored to each village
Our focus is on producing plans that are not only compliant, but practical to maintain and use as part of ongoing operations. Where required, outputs can also be aligned with existing asset management systems.
Why Early Preparation Matters
The Victorian reforms increase both compliance expectations and financial accountability.
A well-structured Capital Maintenance Plan provides greater visibility of future capital requirements, supports more informed financial decision-making, and strengthens an operator’s ability to demonstrate compliance.
Taking the time to establish the right foundations now will make it significantly easier to manage these requirements over time.
Talk to MDFM
MDFM works with retirement village and aged care providers across Australia to support asset management, capital planning and compliance.
If you’re preparing for the Victorian reforms or reviewing your broader approach to capital planning, now is a practical time to take stock.
Get in touch for an obligation-free discussion.
Other services
Testimonials
Testimonials
MDFM have been instrumental in managing the property services for Harbison. MDFM set up our Computerised Maintenance Management System and continue to manage the back end of the system for us ongoing. This gives us great confidence that our maintenance records are always up to date and audit ready. They manage our preventative maintenance contracts and have assisted us with countless small and large works to maintain our buildings. Their knowledge of contracts and construction are a fantastic addition to our team. They understand the challenges of a 24/7 operational aged care facility and their friendly staff are always ready to help us with any challenge we may face.
Danny Turner, Residential Services Manager, HarbisonI want to say a big thank you for the service you provided to St Patricks with Edi. Edi was a very pleasant person he got on well with staff and residents, he got on with his work and no job was too difficult. He was professional with a very positive attitude, a credit to MDFM. I would not hesitate to use him and MDFM again.
We manage a large portfolio of Independent Living Units and property maintenance is one of the many headaches we face. Thankfully we can rely on MDFM to handle these headaches for us. From repairing a sliding door, brick work and concrete paths through to pergolas and roofing. A quick email or phone call and we know that they will take care of the job, no matter how big or small. They are quick and cost effective, and they know the aged care industry so our Residents are in good hands.
MDFM completed comprehensive property condition reports for a number of our residential aged care facilities. This involved site inspections where capital works and building maintenance requirements were identified, documented, risk rated, programmed across 5 years and assigned a cost estimate. These reports have been invaluable for our maintenance forecasting and property risk management.
MDFM also provided barcoded asset registers and CMMS implementation across 5 facilities. We have found MDFM to be extremely professional and their conduct onsite is respectful and discreet. Their understanding of the aged care industry is immense and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their services to others in the aged care field.
“MDFM showed understanding and compassion for the investment we had already made in MEX, and helped us leverage this platform so we can use it to make decisions and remain compliant. I feel very confident in this working engagement.”
