More than 40 thousand people living in residential land lease communities in NSW will be better off after changes to how these communities are regulated, making it fairer for residents.
The Minns Labor Government has today passed new laws to fix some of the biggest and most pressing challenges for these communities, including changes to fees and charges.
Residential land lease communities include caravan parks or manufactured home estates with permanent residents who own their home but lease the land on which the home sits from the community operator.
Residential land lease communities play an important part in NSW’s housing diversity, with many communities providing lower cost and affordable homes for people – especially older Australians.
The changes include:
- Improving transparency of fees and charges: with rules to require operators to make it clear to prospective residents how much fees and charges will be and to make future increases more predictable.
- Fairer electricity pricing: protection from excessive price rises in communities with embedded networks so residents and operators have more certainty about energy prices.
- Letting residents make a house a home: with a right to make minor changes like adding window locks or screens without seeking approval.
There are more than 500 residential land lease communities in NSW, with 95 per cent of them located in rural and regional NSW.
The statutory review of the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013 was completed in 2021. While the report was tabled in Parliament, the previous government did not act on its recommendations. One of those recommendations was allowing three years for land lease community providers to transition to the fairer fee structure.
To ensure relief earlier for these residents, the Minns Labor Government supported a key amendment to reduce the transition period from three years to 12 months – ensuring greater clarity sooner for people living in these communities.
Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:
“Residents in these communities have been crying out for change for years.
“We’ve heard the community, and we know they’re dealing with uncertainty and cost of living pressure, so we’re getting on with it.
“These changes make fee increases clearer and ensure electricity charges are fair and equitable.
“I am proud that we have been able to pass this legislation during our first term in government, ending the inaction of the previous government that sat on its hands for nearly a decade.”
ARPRA CEO Gary Martin said:
“We are delighted with the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to making real, impactful changes for the residents of Residential Land Lease Communities.
“These new laws will provide much-needed clarity and fairness, particularly regarding fees, charges, and electricity pricing.
“The reduction of the transition period for fixed term agreements from three years to 12 months is a significant victory for residents, who have long faced uncertainty and financial pressure.
“This legislation demonstrates a strong commitment to improving the quality of life for some of the most vulnerable members of our state.”
