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'Many issues
affecting long-stay tenants will be resolved'
New laws will
offer greater protection
for caravan park residents in WA
Have your say
NEW laws have been passed in Western
Australia to give more protection to people living caravan parks.
Changes to the Residential Parks (Long-stay Tenants) Act 2006 will give
tenants renting sites or homes in residential parks better clarity with
contracts and costs as well as set new rules relating to terminations.
Long-stay tenancies can involve living in a caravan, mobile home or park
home located within a caravan park or lifestyle village.
The changes follow extensive consultation with tenants, operators and the
community generally.
New laws will now ensure fairer dealings and security of contract between
park operators and their long-stay tenants, including:
* Limiting the termination of fixed-term
agreements on the sale of a park or if the owner’s financier takes
possession of the park;
* No longer allowing ‘without grounds’
terminations of long-stay agreements, instead setting out specific grounds
that will provide greater certainty in relation to termination rights;
* Improved disclosure requirements on
contractual issues such as exit fees;
* Clearer rules for park operators, home owners
and prospective tenants in relation to the sale of homes;
* Clarification of the park operator’s
obligation to enforce park rules in a fair, reasonable and equitable
manner; and
* Standard lease clauses will no longer be able
to be varied and the introduction of standard form agreements for new
arrangements.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping
(pictured) said these extra
protections were important for members of the community who
relied on residential park living as an
important and viable housing option.
"As these residents usually own their home but only lease the land on
which it sits, they are sometimes lacking protection," he said.
"I expect these new laws will give them greater confidence and security."
She said that the past, residents had been particularly exposed when park
operators decided to sell the park or become insolvent.
"Many issues affecting long-stay tenants will now be resolved, including
certainty of contract, disclosures, costs of park living, sale of a home,
exit fees and park liaison committees.
"I believe the laws strike a fair balance between upholding the rights of
tenants and maintaining the financial viability of the park for
operators."
Work on developing standard agreements, disclosure material and other
regulations has now begun which, when completed, will see the new laws
implemented.
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permission of Dennis Amor.
Copyright 2005
Dennis Amor All Rights Reserved
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