August 18, 2025

Life in Residential Parks:

While residential parks offer community and security benefits for older Victorians, our research reveals significant challenges with transparency, fees, and complaint handling. Completed in partnership with the Commissioner for Residential Tenancies, this report explores:

  • The experiences of residents living in residential parks across Victoria
  • Key concerns around site agreements, fees, and maintenance
  • Opportunities to improve regulation and resident protections
  • Recommendations for comprehensive reform

 

Download key insights here:

A summary of research findings and recommendations

Download Key Insights here

Download comprehensive breakdown of the recommendations, plus an analysis of contracts between residential park operators and residents in Victoria here:
Download Recommendations Download Contract Review

Download the detailed research insights from both residents and operators, here:

Download Full Report

Key Findings

Community benefits vs management challenges

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65% of residents are satisfied with living in their park, with many enjoying the community feel, security, and easy living.

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41% report issues with park management

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39% don’t like the site agreements and associated costs.

Financial concerns

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57% Residents were concerned about site fees

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52% Residents were concerned about exit fees/DMFs

Agreement complexity

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0%

80% Residents needed help understanding their site agreement

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0%

Only 16% Residents received a site condition report before purchase

Maintenance discrepancies

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85% Operators very satisfied with maintenance

 

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23% Residents very satisfied with maintenance

Recommendations

Our research shows the need for a comprehensive reform package to better protect residents and set clear expectations for industry.

For Victorian Government:

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Create stand-alone legislation for residential parks to simplify and clarify residents' rights and operators' obligations
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Establish a licensing scheme for park operators including a 'fit and proper person' test and mandatory code of conduct
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Expand funding for advice services to provide residents with independent support when buying, living in, or exiting a park

For regulatory bodies:

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Develop standardised agreements with transparent fee calculations to provide residents certainty
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Improve regulation of dwelling standards to address building defects and responsibility confusion
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Establish collective complaint powers for residents alongside access to alternative dispute resolution services

For park operators:

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Improve transparency around site fees, exit fees and maintenance schedules
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Support Residents Committees to give homeowners greater voice in their communities
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Adopt aging-in-place strategies to accommodate changing resident needs over time

Where to from here?

CPRC welcomes the opportunity to work further on this issue with government, regulators, policy makers, academics and the residential parks sector.

If you are in one of the above groups and would like a one-on-one briefing for your organisation, contact our team today. 

This report was completed in partnership with the Commissioner for Residential Tenancies for the Victorian Government.

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