Advantages and Disadvantages of living in a Caravan Park

Advantages
Disadvantages

A Place to call home

Finding a caravan park
Choosing the caravan
If you can't afford the rent

Moving in

Things to find out
Try to get an agreement from the manager
If you don't sign an agreement
The bond
If you can't afford the bond
Rent in advance

Making your park a community

The Icy Tea Caravan Arts Project

Living in a caravan or renting a mobile/relocatable home

Changes to the law
If you need help

Living in a mobile/relocatable home that you own

What is a mobile home
Your rights
Your responsibilities

Moving out

If you decide to leave
If you're asked to leave
Getting your bond back
Bond loans

Other options

Advantages and Disadvantages of living in a Caravan Park

Advantages

Caravan parks can be like mini suburbs, with their own street names and numbers, but without the traffic noise.

There's usually a lot of people around, so there's often someone to talk to, or kids who can play with your kids.

There can be plenty of things to do in caravan parks, like working on a garden with other residents, or using the pool, barbeques, or playground.

There's often a shop at the park.

The manager often lives on the site, so problems can be fixed immediately.

Caravans can be cheap. Some caravan parks don't charge a bond when you move in.

Most caravan parks have rules about noise, so they're often fairly quiet.

They can be a good place to live if you need to move around a lot, like if you're touring or following seasonal work like fruit picking.

There's lots of potential to make a caravan park a happy, involved community!

You don't have to buy furniture for a caravan, like you usually have to for flats or houses.

Disadvantages

You don't have as many rights as people who live in houses or flats. For example, you can be asked to leave at any time.

You usually have to share toilets and showers.

You have to walk to the toilets and showers — this can be a problem at night or if it's raining.

Having more people around can mean more noise. This can be a real problem if you live in a tourist area.

Your home is often smaller than if you lived in a flat or house, and your neighbours can be very close. They can often hear what you're doing.

The manager often lives on the site. Some people think this gives them less privacy.

You probably won't be able to have the phone on. Phone messages will usually be put up on a board.

There can be a lot of gossiping in caravan parks.

Caravans can be very hot.

You often can't have pets.

You usually aren't allowed to make much noise, so having parties might not be possible.

Some companies may try to discriminate against you because you live in a caravan park (like if you want to borrow money or rent a TV).

A Place to call home

Finding a caravan park

In Queensland, you can get a list of caravan parks from the Caravan and Mobile Home Residents Association (CAMRA), the RACQ, the Caravan Parks Association of Queensland, or you could look in the Yellow Pages or Brisbane Big Colour Pages.

When you're looking for a caravan park to live in, you need to think about how long you'll want to stay there. Are you looking for somewhere to live for a long time or just for a few weeks or months? If you'll only be there briefly, you may not need to be as choosy as someone who wants to live there for a long time.

When you're looking for a Park, ask plenty of questions to see if you'll like it. Is it close to things you need, such as public transport, the local school, and shops? What is the manager like? Talk to him/her to see what you think, and ask other residents. What's the "personality" of the Park and what are the residents like? Remember, if you move in, you will be living very close to them. It's important to feel safe and comfortable.

Choosing the caravan

Choosing a caravan isn't a problem if you already own the caravan you'll be living in. But if you are choosing an on--site caravan to rent, or are about to buy one, you need to find one that meets your needs. (Most people rent their vans, but if you want to find out more about buying one, talk to the park manager, or look in the Yellow Pages under Caravans &/or Equipment & Supplies).

The main question to ask is: Could you really live there? Would you be comfortable in that caravan? Does it have enough rooms and storage space? If it's just a van, would you be able to add an annexe? Caravans with annexes have more room, but they can be more expensive. Does it have other things you may need, such as a table for kids' homework or to play cards on?

If you can't afford the rent

If you're on a Social Security benefit, you might be able to get Rent Assistance — extra money to help pay the rent. The amount of money you can get depends on how much your rent is.

If you're under 18 and can't live with your parents, you might be able to get Young Homeless Allowance. It's attached to Job Search Allowance if you're over 16, and Special Benefits if you're under 16. You have to fit the specific Young Homeless criteria, and the DSS checks it out.

Contact the Centrelink on 13 2468 to find out if you can get Rent Assistance or the Young Homeless Allowance.

Moving in

Things to find out

When you move into a caravan park, there are lots of things you should find out about. Some will be rules of the Park, others are just things you need to know. They may be listed in your agreement or in the Park rules, or you may have to ask the manager.

• Does your van have electricity or gas, and how do you pay for it — does your rent include it, or is it separate?
• Where do you do your washing?
• Can you have any pets? Many Parks don't allow pets, but some allow birds.
• Can you grow plants on the site?
• How is your rubbish collected?
• Where do you collect your mail?
• What happens with phone messages? Most managers will pin them up on a board and only deliver them if they're urgent.
• Where can you make phone calls?
• What is the Park's policy on visitors? Many Parks will charge you if you have someone stay over, and some Parks do not let visitors use the pool. Where can you park your car if you have one?
• What about security for your van? If your van has a lock, you might have to pay a key deposit to get the key from the manager when you move in. If your van does not have a lock, ask the manager to put a lock on it.
• Does the Park have a boom gate, and how do you use it? Do you need to use a key to get in? Can you let visitors in? Some Parks will not let visitors' cars in, even if they are helping you move in. It's always best to ask.
• Does the Park have rules about alcohol?
• Are there any rules about using facilities in the Park? For example, some Parks don't let you use the pool at night.
• How do you go about getting something fixed?
• Does the Park arrange activities, such as day trips and games days?
• Are there any rules about skateboards, roller blades, or bicycles?
• Is the Park for long--term living or mainly for tourists and holiday makers? Parks for tourists can be more noisy than others.

Try to get an agreement from the manager

It's a good idea to talk to the manager when you move in. You'll need to decide things like how much the rent will be and if you can have pets. Try to come to an agreement with the manager — if possible, get the agreement in writing. Having the agreement in writing makes it more secure (because the manager has agreed exactly what you can and can't do).

Some caravan park managers will simply tell you what they expect. Some will have "Park Rules" which tell you what you can and can't do. These rules might be printed on a piece of paper given to you when you move in, or they may be written on a board. By moving in, you are agreeing to follow the park rules.

If you get a written agreement or Park rules, read it carefully before you move in, you can still ask to see the agreement at any time. Make sure you understand everything in the agreement. If you don't understand everything, ring the Caravan and Mobile Home Residents Association (CAMRA) or your local legal aid office--see links. Keep a copy of the agreement in a safe place.

If there is anything you don't agree with in the contract, don't sign it. Ask the manager if the contract can be changed, and if they agree to any changes, make sure these are written on the contract.

TENANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THEIR SITE TIDY

If you don't sign an agreement

Don't be surprised if you don't sign an agreement — they're not very common in caravan parks.

If you don't sign an agreement, you could ask the park manager to agree to some points. For example, you could ask the manager to agree in writing how much your rent will be, and that you'll be given some notice before the rent is put up.

You could also ask to rent for a set period, say 6 months, to give you some security. In return, the manager may ask you to keep the place clean and not have loud parties.

The bond

The manager may ask you to pay a bond when you move in. The bond is money you pay when you move in, which the manager may claim if you owe money for rent or damages when you leave.

The bond is often equal to two or four weeks' rent. If you do pay a bond, make sure you get a receipt, and that you fill out a Bond Lodgement form. If the manager doesn't give you one, you can get one from your local post office or the Residential Tenancies Authority.

The manager must send your bond to the Rental Bond Authority within 14 days. If the manager doesn't send the money to the Rental Bond Authority, he/she has broken the law.

You should receive a notice from the Rental Bond Authority saying that they have received your bond. Make sure you keep this notice. If you don't get a bond lodgement notice a few weeks after you move in, call the Rental Bond Authority to check if the manager lodged your bond.

If you can't afford the bond

If you have to pay a bond and you can't afford it, you might be able to get a bond loan from the Department of Housing Local Government and Planning. They pay the bond for you and you pay it back slowly. To get a bond loan, you need to have lived in the area for 6 weeks. The phone number for bond loans is in the telephone book under Department of Housing, Client Services.

You might also be able to get Emergency Relief Money. This is money the government gives to community services such as Careforce, Lifeline, and churches, and they give it to people in crisis. Go to your local community service and see if they can help.

Rent in advance

When you're renting, you always pay the rent in advance. This means that if you pay two weeks' rent, you are actually paying for the next two weeks, and you therefore have the right to live in the caravan for the next two weeks.

When you first move into a Park, the manager will usually ask for two weeks' rent in advance plus the bond. Sometimes you will be asked for more than two weeks' rent in advance.

No matter how much rent you pay in advance when you move in, you don't have to pay rent again until you've used that rent up. This means that if the manager asks for four weeks' rent in advance, you won't have to pay rent for four weeks after you've moved in.

A manager cannot ask for rent in advance and then keep it like a bond — if they try to do this, you should get some advice. Call CAMRA, the Tenants' Union, or the Rental Bond Authority for help.

Make sure you get a receipt for any rent you pay. Keep the receipt in a safe place — it proves that you paid the money.

Making your park a community

Living in a caravan park can be like living in a village — with everything you need close by, lots of friends around, and plenty to do. Here are a few ideas of things you might like to start in your caravan park.

Make a garden. Get some cheap plants from flea markets or supermarkets and make your own garden. Ask the park caretaker or manager to give you some hints.

Start a card group. Get some neighbours together, meet every week or month, and play cards.

Have a barbeque. Many caravan parks have barbeque areas, or you could go to a local park. You could invite some friends, or you could have a barbeques for the whole park. All you have to do is check with the manager that it's OK, put up a sign on the noticeboard, and tell everyone. Tell people to bring food and musical instruments.

Have a game of football or cricket. If there's a park nearby, you could arrange games. All you need to do is spread the word and people will turn up.

Start a walking club. Get some people together and go for walks around the area. You'll probably find places you never knew existed! Make sure you take some food, water, and a map.

Get involved in theatre and the arts. You can act, dance, sing, or play music… even if you've never done them before! You could start a group at your park, or you could contact a local community arts group. (Contact your local government arts officer).

To set up a group of your own, get some people interested. Meet and decide what you want to do. Do you want to put together a play for the other residents, or maybe a puppet show for the kids? Your local library will have books on acting, dancing, clowning, and puppets if you need more ideas.

Get together, work out what you want to do, rehearse, and put on a performance! Tell everyone to come and bring food. (It's best to check with the manager first.)

The Icy Tea Caravan Arts Project

The Caravan Arts Project is one example of people getting involved in art in caravan parks. The Project was a series of dramatic and artistic workshops run by Icy Tea, an Inala--based community arts organisation. The workshops were held in the Inala and Wynnum/Manly districts.

The project gave residents a chance to think about their homes and local cultures. What did they like about living in caravans? What didn't they like? What could they do to improve living in caravans?

The residents then expressed their answers to these questions through art. They made poems and songs, they created characters for a play about living in a caravan park, painted flowerpots to brighten up their gardens, and had barbeque singalongs.

Living in a caravan or renting a mobile/relocatable home

The law that protects people who rent a house or flat does not mention caravan or mobile/relocatable home renters. If you are renting a caravan or mobile home, you do not have the same rights as people who rent houses or flats. For example, you can be asked to leave a caravan park at any time. But if you keep the park rules, pay your rent, and get on with the manager, you may be able to stay in the park for as long as you want.

Changes to the law

The Tenants' Union of Queensland and the Caravan and Mobile Home Residents Association (CAMRA) are organisations that represent tenants in government and industry and lobbying for changes that increase your rights. To find out what's happening or how you can be involved, call the Tenants' Union or CAMRA.

If you need help

If you need to talk to someone about your rights, or for information on agreements, contact CAMRA. They give advice and assistance to caravan park and mobile home residents, and produce booklets and a newsletter for people who live in caravans.

You can find CAMRA and the Tenants' Union in our links page

Living in a mobile/relocatable home that you own

If you own a mobile or relocatable home and you live in it, your rights and responsibilities are covered by the Mobile Home Act. If you rent a Mobile Home, you are not covered by the Act, and you have the same rights as someone who lives in a caravan.

What is a mobile home?

Under the Mobile Homes Act, a mobile home is essentially a relocatable home — it usually must be split into two (or more) pieces and takes a long time to move. It is not a caravan or campervan.

Your rights

If you own the relocatable home you are living in, you have these rights:

• The landlord has to give you a written statement within three months of when you move in. The statement must include your and the owner/manager's names, how long you are going to stay, and the rights and obligations of both you and the owner/manager. You do not have to sign the written statement, and you do not have to pay for it.
• If you do not get a written statement, ask the manager for one. If they still don't give you one, contact one of the organisations listed on our links page for help. You could get a standard letter from the Tenants' Union, which shows you how to demand a written statement. If you still don't receive a written statement, contact the Small Claims Tribunal or the Department of Consumer Affairs. These numbers are at the back of this book.
• You can sell your home, but the park owner/manager may ask you not to, and you will then have to move your home from the park to be able to sell it.
• The park manager must have an order from the Small Claims Tribunal before they can evict you.
• You may be able to get compensation if you are forced to move within the park, or if the park is not going to be a caravan park any more.
• Once you've moved in, the manager should leave you alone so that you have what's called quiet enjoyment of the mobile home.

Your responsibilities

You Must:

• Give at least four weeks' notice in writing to end the agreement (such as if you want to move out).
• Ask the park owner's permission if you want to sell the home.
• Not disturb other residents.
• Keep the home in reasonable condition.
• Use the home as the main place you live in.
• Keep your side of the agreement.

Moving out

If you rent a caravan or mobile/relocatable home, there are a few things you should know for when you move out.

If you decide to leave

You don't have to give notice to the manager before you move out, but it's a good idea to give notice if you can. Two weeks before (or when you pay your last rent) is a good amount of notice to give.

If you're asked to leave

Common reasons for being asked to move out are if you break the park rules, like making lots of noise, not paying rent, or annoying other residents; or doing anything illegal, such as having illegal drugs in the park.

The manager can ask you to leave at any time, and you don't have to be given a set period of notice. The law simply says that you must be given "reasonable notice", which means that it depends on the circumstances. A usual amount of notice is 24 hours.

Being thrown out on the spot is not reasonable notice. If you think you have not been given reasonable notice, call CAMRA, the Tenants' Union, or your local legal aid office for advice.

It's a good idea to stay calm with the manager — even when you're asked to leave. Many managers tell each other about "trouble makers". It's not worth getting a bad reputation with all managers just because you have problems with one.

Getting your bond back

If you paid a bond, you should get it all back, unless you have damaged the property, left the place dirty, or are behind in rent.

When you leave, you should fill out an Application for Refund of Rental Bond. The manager might give you one, or you can get one at the Post Office.

If you and the manager agree on how the bond should be paid out, you should both complete the Application for Refund of Rental Bond form and either send it to the Rental Bond Authority, or take it to a Post Office that has a fax machine. See links for details.

If you send it to the Rental Bond Authority, they will post the bond money to you. Remember to put your new address under Refund Details on the form. If you take the form to the Post Office, they will give you give you cash within 20 minutes. You'll need some identification.

If you and the manager don't agree on how the bond will be paid out, you should still fill out the Application for Refund of Rental Bond form and send it to the Rental Bond Authority (don't take it to the Post Office). If you send a form to the Rental Bond Authority before the manager does, the manager will have to apply to the Small Claims Tribunal to resolve the disagreement. If the landlord does not dispute it within 14 days, the bond will be paid as you requested on the form.

If the manager does respond to the notice, you will be asked to go to the Small Claims Tribunal. This is an informal court where a referee will decide how the bond should be paid out. You should take along any evidence you have — including your agreement (if you have one), bond receipts, and any photographs you have. You could also take along some witnesses. You will be asked to explain why the bond should be paid back to you. The referee will talk to you and the landlord, and then tell the Rental Bond Authority how to pay out the bond.

Don't give up your bond just because you have to go to the Small Claims Tribunal to get it back. The tribunal is informal, and the referee will listen to your side of the story before making a decision.

Remember, if you need help, contact CAMRA or one of the other organisations listed on the links page.

Bond Loans

If you have a bond loan from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning, any money you still owe them will be paid back first, and you will get what's left of the bond. If the manager keeps some of the bond to pay for damages or rent owing, you will still have to pay back any money owing to the Department. You won't be able to get another bond loan (and you won't be able to apply for public housing) until you've paid back all the money you owe.

Other options

Sometimes people think that caravan parks are the cheapest type of housing available. But renting a house or flat can be just as cheap. If you want to find out how much renting a house or flat would cost, look in the local newspapers and real estate agents' offices. You could also look on notice boards at the local shopping centre, and in some newsagents and coffee shops. Some community radio stations (4ZZZ in Brisbane) read out accommodation notices.

You could also move into a boarding house or hostel, tent, or hotel. In an emergency, you can go to a shelter. Some organisations have supported accommodation, where you pay rent and someone visits every so often to check if you're doing OK.

Another option is public housing. The Department of Housing, Local government and Planning owns houses and flats which people can rent cheaply. The waiting lists for public housing are long, but it's a good idea to apply so that you'll get a place when one becomes available. It's hard to get into public housing if you're under 18, but it's still worth applying. To find out more about public housing, call the Department on (07) 3227 8646 or 1 800 177 292.