'Inadequacy
of park facilities a common theme'
Caravan park dwellers
'crave sense of control'
Have your say
A JAMES Cook
University researcher claims caravan park residents face poor living
conditions, arbitrary rules and no security of tenure because outdated
laws.
PhD student Geraldine Mallinson has interviewed residents and managers at
caravan parks in north Queensland.
She said the fundamental finding of her study was that residents "craved a
sense of control over their home environment" and wanted to live in peace
without constant supervision and reprimand.
More and more people regarded caravan parks as their homes as access to
traditional home ownership and rental tenancies became more difficult.
"The overwhelming majority of caravan park permanent residents in
Australia are above retirement age. Many caravan park residents in this
study, particularly those who own their own caravan, viewed their current
park dwelling as their last home in life," she said.
Ms Mallinson said Australian caravan parks were originally designed as
holiday destinations but, since the 1980s, had been allowed to house
permanent residents and are still regulated as temporary rather than
permanent accommodation.
Tenants
commonly have no lease agreements . . .
|
"Park rental tenants
commonly have no lease agreements, and homeowners have no right of tenure
over the land on which their homes are sited.
"If the site is sold, they must move. But some residents have been in
place for years and have added to their homes, to the extent that it's
impossible for them to move," she said.
Ms Mallinson described the rented caravans she had seen as being uniformly
old and badly maintained.
"One park operator told me they wouldn't let their dog live in one and
freely admitted they were disgusting," she said.
The overwhelming majority of residents she interviewed lived alone and
only two homes she saw were overcrowded.
"The problem is the facilities – toilets, showers, laundries and kitchens
are provided by the park – and they are of a basic style and in short
supply," she said.
"One park had two shared toilet/shower blocks and one laundry to cater for
up to two hundred people."
Ms Mallinson said the inadequacy of park facilities was a common theme,
because an exceptionally poor standard of accommodation is legally
permitted to be offered for rent.
Weak legislation covering the parks also meant the quality of life in a
caravan park was largely dependent on the management.
"The tenant is allowed to leave at any time, but that also gives the
landlord the power of eviction over any tenant who is deemed to be 'in
breach of the park rules'.
"The term 'in breach' is open to interpretation and from what I've seen
park rules are sometimes unreasonable and inconsistent."
Ms Mallinson said her fundamental finding was that residents craved a
sense of control over their home environment and wanted to live in peace
without constant supervision and reprimand.