Residents who had long-term stays at a caravan park in Albany have been forced to vacate following the sale of the Acclaim Rose Gardens Beachside Holiday Park, which included a stipulation for vacant possession.
The state government is currently evaluating the WA Residential Parks (Long-stay Tenants) Act 2006 in light of these developments.
Reg Hoyling and his partner, Eva Johnson, invested their life savings into a park home, believing it would serve as their permanent residence on the southern coast of Western Australia. “We purchased the house for $154,000 and paid an additional $16,000 to the previous owner for furnishings— I thought it was a fair deal,” Mr. Hoyling remarked.
However, in early 2025, the sale of the park resulted in Mr. Hoyling and approximately twenty-three other long-term residents receiving eviction notices.
Mr. Hoyling, who is battling stage four cancer, now finds himself without a home, having only secured temporary lodging, while Ms. Johnson has transitioned to a residential care facility.
According to Mr. Hoyling, his efforts to seek assistance from various authorities, including members of parliament and consumer protection agencies, have yielded no results, leading to significant financial strain. “I was desperate and reached out to everyone, but it has cost me a lot without any resolution,” he stated.
In a last-ditch effort, Mr. Hoyling sold his park home and most of his belongings just days before the eviction deadline. Residents were given the possibility of relocating their homes to the nearby Panorama Caravan Park, but additional preparations were necessary at that site before any moves could occur.
Some former residents of Rose Gardens, like Jan and Victor Nickolson, are currently living in caravans at the Panorama site while awaiting the opportunity to move into their park homes.
Pippa Minchin, another ex-resident, has struggled to secure long-term housing. She had intended to relocate to Panorama but decided to sell her park home after learning that compliance with bushfire regulations at the new location would incur costs of up to $90,000.
Minchin noted the difficulties many residents face in finding alternative accommodation amidst lengthy waiting lists. “I have registered at various places, but everyone has waitlists. Right now, I’m staying with different family members,” she shared.
Matthew Gilfellon, the City of Albany’s executive director of corporate and commercial services, stated that the council has extended support to the former Rose Garden residents that exceeds the minimum requirements set by law.
Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake highlighted the inherent risks associated with this type of housing arrangement, where residents own their homes but do not own the land. “Fixed-term agreements provide certain protections that carry over to new owners in the event of a sale. However, those on month-to-month agreements can be required to vacate if the new owners seek vacant possession,” she explained. Most long-term residents of Rose Gardens operated under periodic leases.
The tenancy agreements fall under the WA Residential Parks (Long-stay Tenants) Act 2006, which is presently under review. Carol McCracken, the chief executive of Caravan and Camping WA, mentioned that this review could offer a chance to enhance clarity for both tenants and operators. “This is an opportunity to modernize and streamline the Act, as it is currently outdated. We need a straightforward and balanced approach,” she concluded.
