Improvements for residential (manufactured home) parks

We are making improvements to residential (manufactured home) parks as part of our commitment in Homes for Queenslanders to modernise the housing legislative framework.

These improvements also deliver on Action 18 of the Queensland Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021–2025 to address issues related to site rent increases and unsold manufactured homes in residential parks.

After consulting with manufactured home owners, residential park owners and other stakeholders, we developed reforms to the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003.

The Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Amendment Act 2024 was passed by parliament on 23 May 2024, and received assent on 6 June 2024.

About the reforms

The reforms to the Act improve consumer protections in residential parks, while making sure it’s still viable for investors and operators to provide this housing option. These reforms will:

• provide greater certainty and predictability about site rent increases for owners of manufactured homes
• streamline the sales process for manufactured homes, and introduce an opt-in buyback and site rent reduction scheme
• improve consumer protections and transparency in residential parks, making parks a more attractive option for retirees and supporting the ongoing viability of the industry.

The reforms to the Act include:

• annual site rent increases limited to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 3.5%, whichever is higher
• prohibition of market rent reviews
• approved methods for site rent increases in new site agreements
• requirements for park comparison documents and maintenance and capital replacement plans
• streamlined sales process for manufactured homes
• a site rent reduction and buyback scheme
• stronger registration requirements for residential parks
• more options for home owners to pay site rent
• improved protection for home owners who’ve had their site agreement terminated
• a standard definition of CPI to be used for site rent increases.

A review of the changes will begin within 3 years to ensure that the reforms balance consumer protection with industry viability.

What happens next?

The Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Amendment Act 2024 has been passed by Parliament. The reforms will be implemented in stages:

• Some have now commenced on assent of the Act.
• Some commence 6–18 months after assent.
• Some commence at dates established by proclamation following consultation with key stakeholders on new forms and regulations.

• Issues paper consultation
• Options to address issues developed
• Consultation regulatory impact statement released
• Consultation with industry and home owners
• Reform proposals refined
• Decision impact analysis statement released
• Legislation in Parliament

How did we get here?

1. In 2022, we prepared an issues paper (PDF, 752.76 KB) outlining stakeholder concerns about site rent increases and unsold manufactured homes. We also analysed survey responses and submissions (see key results from the home owner survey (PDF, 126.06 KB)).
2. We proposed reform options in a consultation regulatory impact statement (C-RIS) (PDF, 2959 KB), which we released with a summary document (PDF, 1110.28 KB) on 15 May 2023.
3. After a public consultation on the C-RIS, we refined reform options in the Decision impact analysis statement (DIAS): Residential parks – addressing concerns about site rent increases and sale of homes (PDF, 2574.34 KB).
4. The Bill was introduced into Parliament on 21 March 2024 and referred to the Housing, Big Build and Manufacturing Committee. The committee considered departmental briefs, stakeholder submissions and public hearings before recommending that the Bill be passed.
5. On 23 May 2024, Parliament passed the Act. It received royal assent on 6 June 2024.