Download the complete guide in Word format: Caravan park guide (Word, 52KB)
Caravan park owners must give residents a copy of the above guide on or before the day they move in. Find the renting guides at Resources and guides overview.
Bond
If the caravan park owner asks you to pay a bond:
- it must not be more than 28 days’ rent
- you must already have entered into a written residency agreement.
You may choose to pay the bond directly to the park owner, or directly to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA).
If you give the park owner written notice that you want to pay your bond directly to the RTBA:
- the park owner must choose this option when they start the bond lodgement transaction with the RTBA
- you must pay the bond money to the RTBA within 2 business days of accepting the bond lodgement transaction you start on the RTBA website.
If you choose to pay the bond directly to the park owner:
- the owner will need to provide you with a receipt for the money received. Ensure you keep the receipt
- the owner will need to start a bond lodgement transaction on the RTBA website within 10 business days of receiving the bond money from you
- once you accept the bond lodgement transaction from the RTBA, the bond money is debited from the owner.
A bond receipt will be emailed to all parties - keep a copy of this handy. If you do not receive a receipt within 15 business days of making payment, you can contact the RTBA.
Condition report
The caravan park owner must give you a condition report. They must fill in their part of the report, sign it and give you 2 copies (or one copy electronically) before you move in.
Inspect the caravan and add your own notes on its condition, including any damage. Take photos if you can. Give one copy of the completed, signed report to the owner within 3 days of moving in.
Important: Keep your copy of the condition report. You might need it if there is a dispute about who should pay for cleaning, damage, or replacement of missing items.
Rent increases
Your rent or hiring charge can only be increased once every 12 months. If you have not asked for additional services, the owner must give you at least:
- 60 days' notice for a hiring charge increase
- 90 days' notice of a rent increase.
For more information about rent increases.
Extra fees and costs
In addition to rent or hiring charges, you may need to pay other charges. For example, for the supply or use of electricity, gas and water to the caravan. The owner must give you details of these charges at the start of your residency.
Repairs and maintenance
You are responsible for:
- maintaining your caravan in line with the general standards of the park, set by the park owner and provided to you in the park rules at the beginning of your occupancy
- following the caravan park rules.
The caravan park owner is responsible for:
- all repairs to the caravan and the underlying site
- repairs to communal park facilities
- keeping the park’s common areas, facilities, gardens, roadways, paths and recreation areas clean and safe
- garbage collection.
If you or your visitor cause damage to your caravan or a communal park facility or a site, you must either:
- repair the damage, or
- notify the park owner and pay compensation for the damage.
Find more information on repairs.
Bond claims
Before you move out, you and the caravan park owner should:
- try to agree on how the bond will be finalised
- set out the agreed division in the bond claim form.
The owner can claim part or all of the bond for specific things, such as:
- damage caused by you or your visitors (but not fair wear and tear)
- cleaning expenses, if you have not left the property reasonably clean.
If the caravan park owner wants to claim part or all of the bond, they must tell you at least 3 business days before making a claim and give you evidence that supports their claim.
The evidence must not contradict the condition report.
Only sign the bond claim form if it shows the amount you will receive.
If the park owner agrees, the RTBA can release your bond up to 14 days before the end of your residency agreement.
If you can’t agree on the bond, you can submit a bond claim to the RTBA. The RTBA will then contact the owner.
If the owner accepts the claim or does nothing, the RTBA will pay the bond to you after a 14-day period.
If the park owner does not agree, they have 14 days to apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to dispute the claim. VCAT can make an order about how the bond should be divided.
They park owner must provide VCAT with evidence that supports their claim. It must not contradict the condition report. It is an offence to apply to VCAT without supporting evidence or with evidence that contradicts the condition report.
More information: Resolving bond disputes.
Safety
If a resident or their visitor is being violent or putting anyone in the park in danger, the owner can give that person a ‘Notice to Leave’ or an immediate ‘Notice to Vacate’. The person must then leave the park immediately.
The owner can also give a resident a 14-day ‘Notice to Vacate’ for serious threats or intimidation.
Find more information about violent and dangerous behaviour in caravan parks.
For information on your renting rights if you are affected by family violence.
Discrimination
Caravan park owners must not unlawfully discriminate (or tell their agent to unlawfully discriminate) against you. For example, they must not discriminate against you because of your sex, age, disability, race or religion when deciding whether to rent you a caravan or site.
Find more information on unlawful discrimination.
Threat of eviction
A caravan park owner cannot evict you for exercising your legal rights or saying you will do so. They can only end your residency agreement for specific reasons. They must give you the required amount of notice and use the correct ‘Notice to vacate’ form.
If you are worried about getting a notice to vacate or getting evicted, contact us for information and advice.
Resident disputes
The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria can hear disputes between residents and help them reach agreement. For more information, visit disputes.vic.gov.au.
If your park has a residents committee, the committee may also be able to help resolve this type of dispute.
Contacts