WA residential parks law review: 267 surveys, register proposed
WA Commerce Minister Tony Buti said on 13 Nov the residential parks law review backs the Act and proposes a public register of parks, with more consultation.
- Source Briefing
- Public record
On 13 November, Western Australia’s Commerce Minister, Tony Buti, released the outcome of a statutory review of the state’s residential parks tenancy laws. The review found the Act remains an effective framework for residential parks, and proposes a public register of parks plus a further round of consultation on several open questions.
Why it matters
Residential parks, where long-stay tenants live under agreements with a park operator, are covered by the Residential Parks (Long-stay Tenants) Act 2006. According to the WA Government statement, the Act must be reviewed every five years, and Consumer Protection, within the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety, led this review.
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The statement said outcomes could improve through clearer information, closer engagement and wider awareness of rights, responsibilities and ways to resolve disputes. It added that more targeted guidance would help tenants and operators grasp their obligations and know how to raise concerns, such as via park liaison committees.
The minister said parks offer affordable, secure housing, so the laws governing them need to stay clear, fair and effective, and described the legislation as largely working well. The statement also said the government will look at how the park rules line up with upcoming reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987, which covers other rentals; our earlier story on REIWA’s budget wishlist for rental relief covers that wider rental debate.
The numbers
The statement says the review drew 24 written submissions and 267 survey responses. Engagement also took place in Perth, Bunbury, Albany, Geraldton and Broome, with tenants, park operators, industry representatives and other community stakeholders.
The key recommendations listed in the statement are:
- better disclosure information for people considering a park;
- an updated standard long-stay agreement;
- closer engagement between operators and liaison committees;
- clearer guidance on handling behavioural issues; and
- a public register of residential parks.
What’s next
The government proposes further consultation on five matters, according to the statement:
- what happens when a fixed-term agreement expires;
- rent reviews to market level for agreements signed before 31 January 2022;
- compulsory deadlines for carrying out non-urgent repairs;
- other ways to resolve disputes; and
- consistency with the coming changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987.
The government will keep talking with stakeholders about fixed-term agreements and any other possible reforms, the statement said. Updates are available by subscribing through the review page on the Consumer Protection WA website.
Quick answers
What are the key numbers in this story?
survey responses: 267; written submissions: 24.
Where does this information come from?
This story cites Government of Western Australia, including the public record (Government of Western Australia). Every source is linked on the page.
On the record
Residential parks law review sets out next steps
Government of Western Australia · wa.gov.au
Filed by the AusDev Perth Desk. How we report.