Over 2,200 resident survey responses found that the majority of QLD residents disagreed to the question “there is a clear and fair process for varying site rent”. Only 5% of respondents agreed.
The survey added to 52 submissions from home owners, manufactured housing estate owners and other interested parties made to the QLD Govt’s inquiry to improve its manufactured home parks.
The QLD Govt is seeking to address consumer concerns about site rent increases and unsold homes. An Issues Paper was released in June last year.
Manufactured home parks (land lease communities) have experienced steady growth in Queensland over the last 10 years, being marketed as seniors-focused accommodation providing a retirement living and lifestyle community.
At the time of the last major survey of manufactured home owners in 2013 there were 168 residential parks in Queensland containing 14,000 manufactured home sites.
As of 4 May 2022, there were 202 residential parks listed on the public register in Queensland. These parks contained a total of 23,453 manufactured home sites with 99 listed as ‘mixed-use’, containing both manufactured homes and caravans or other forms of accommodation.
The survey identified the median market rent review increase most recently experienced by respondents was 7.2%.
60.5% of respondents were not happy with how their last market review of site rent was conducted.
Most people surveyed though agreed “there is a clear and fair process for selling a manufactured home in a residential park”.
The QLD Govt’s Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy will now, subject to government consideration, release a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement to seek community feedback about the site rent increases and sale of manufactured homes.
