More long-term caravan park residents face homelessness after oversight of lease requirements

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Residents of caravan parks across the country are being urged to check their lease agreements. In the midst of the housing crisis, an increasing number of long-term residents are facing homelessness. Poor oversight of caravan park operators and ignorance about leases are being blamed as retirees are kicked out of homes they thought they'd be in for life.

Transcript

00:00Kevin Logan thought this was his forever home,

00:05but he'll soon be forced to leave his peaceful life

00:08by the Geraldton Coast behind.

00:10Well, we were told by the caravan park owner

00:14that we'd be here for the rest of our lives.

00:17So we just took it for granted.

00:19The Drummond Cove Caravan Park was sold last year

00:23to Wadjury Enterprises.

00:25In February, long-term tenants were given six months to move out.

00:29I'm 82 now, 83 in July, and this was home.

00:34A bit hard to shift when you're in my age.

00:37Have you ever been given a written form of some sort of lease agreement?

00:41No, nothing.

00:43Leases are a requirement of living in caravan parks,

00:46but a pattern across Australia has suggested the law isn't being upheld

00:51and residents are bearing the brunt.

00:54I'm not sure if everyone knew that it was a legal requirement.

00:57Robin Bollard moved to the Rose Gardens Caravan Park in Albany

01:01on WA's south coast 25 years ago,

01:05saying she never received a lease agreement.

01:08Park owner Redwood Corporate has now signed a deal

01:11with RAC Tourism Assets to sell the park.

01:14Once conditions are met,

01:15it'll trigger an eviction notice for long-stay tenants.

01:18The government's made all these laws,

01:20but nobody seems to be sticking to them,

01:23or they are choosing the one law that will suit them.

01:29After pushback from residents,

01:31the seller and buyer will offer compensation,

01:34but for Miss Bollard, it's shattered her confidence in park living.

01:38I think it would be quite shaky.

01:39I think you would have to really check them out in a big way.

01:43Caravan park leases are meant to clearly outline risks

01:46and protect residents' rights,

01:49but advocates say there's little oversight

01:52and warn people have become complacent.

01:55Average person is so happy to get a home

01:58that they don't even read their leases.

02:01And you ask somebody now what's on the leases,

02:03they don't know.

02:04The association representing caravan park residents

02:07wants the government to step in.

02:09There should be more compliance officers coming back

02:12to check parks that they're doing the right thing.

02:15With the Residential Parks Long Stay Tenants Act

02:17up for review this month,

02:19authorities urge tenants to educate themselves before buying.

02:23There's so much literature,

02:25so I urge people to go out there

02:28and get the information they need.

02:30Advice that could make the difference

02:32between having a home or not.

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