More power for owner-renters
Caravan park residents in Victoria will sleep better at night under new laws safeguarding their rights
The NSW Government is not the only state government considering the well-being of RV and caravan owners.
The Victorian Government has passed new laws that will enhance the tenancy rights of Victorians who own homes erected on rented sites in caravan parks and residential villages.
Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson said the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2010 recognised "owner-renters" as a specific class of resident and afforded them a number of targeted protections, including extending the time a park owner must give a resident to vacate for no specified reason from 120 days to 365 days; increasing the minimum site lease at new parks to five years; and requiring park operators to make full disclosure of park rules, with a duty for operators to consult with owner-renters over rules.
Park operators will also be required to make full disclosure of rent, fees and other charges, including when they are payable and how rent increases and any other fees or charges will be calculated. All site agreements must be in writing with a 20-day consideration period provided to residents to review the agreement.
Residents will also have a five-day cooling off period after entering into an agreement, and the agreement must also specify the length of time the agreement will apply.
The new regulations will also make it easier for owner-renters to transfer the site agreement to another owner-renter, and gives the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) greater capacity to hear claims relating to site agreements from $10,000 to $100,000.
The fact that an increasing number of Victorians, particularly senior citizens, were choosing residential parks as a long-term housing option, was a major factor in the decision to enact the new laws.
"There are more than 4200 Victorians who own their home but rent a site in a residential caravan park. In particular, more retirees and pensioners find home ownership in residential caravan parks an attractive lifestyle option," said Tony Robinson.
"While their homes are technically classified as 'movable', they are often difficult and expensive to demount. These homes can cost up to $300,000 and are often the owner’s principal asset."
More information on residential tenancy laws, can be found at consumer.vic.gov.au
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