New rules are now coming into effect that will allow property owners or occupiers on Queensland’s Fraser Coast to let family or friends live in a caravan in their backyard for up to six months in a 12-month period.
The move comes into force in response to the ongoing housing crisis.
Fraser Coast Regional Council says there are regulations in place to safeguard the amenity of neighbours, such as that the caravan is only for temporary use as a place of residence, and it is not to be used for more than six months in a 12-month period.
Residents will have to complete a registration form to ensure they comply with the local law regulations and to alert Council that a caravan has been placed on a block.
There will be set back regulations. PIC: Joao Guerreiro / Pexels
The new requirements do not override existing regulations which allow residents to let friends and family visiting on holidays to stay for four weeks in a caravan in their backyard.
Other requirements of the new local law include that the permanent residence on the property also must be permanently occupied at the same time.
There are provisions in the local laws to ensure that greywater and sanitation are managed.
Property owners cannot charge rent or ask for payment.
There are also set back provisions that apply.
“These changes will allow people to provide free temporary accommodation to family and friends who cannot find rental accommodation,” Cr Jade Wellings said. “There is a critical shortage of rental accommodation across the country, and this is one way Council can help.”
She stressed that the changes were aimed at helping people who are homeless and do change regulations governing holidaymakers.
“This proposal certainly won’t be a silver bullet, but it may help take some pressure off and help people to take care of their loved ones in their time of need,” Cr Wellings said.
The arrangement will last until December 31, 2027, and then revert to the previous version of the local laws, unless extended, or repealed earlier. Any extension or proposal to repeal will also require community feedback.
The changes to Fraser Coast Regional Council’s Local Laws come after community consultation and feedback and consultation with the Queensland Government.
The process also included assessing the proposed changes against the National Competition Policy Guidelines on anti-competitive provisions in local laws and consultation with multiple government departments.
“Since this was first discussed at Council early last year, there has been a lot of feedback and support from residents which helped shape the draft changes, while a Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre petition supporting the changes gathered more than 5,000 signatures,” Cr Wellings said.
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Absolutely! Pensioners are now having to downsize into a caravan in order to save money!
This is a great idea, but 6 months in a 12 month period is ludicrous, the housing crisis Australia wide is at levels so high and affordability is out the window too with people offering over and above asking prices of the rental amount, making it out of reach for low income families.
Caravan parks can also be out of the price range for some especially during peak seasons, and then some don’t even offer permanents.
Homelessness is becoming more prevalent in our communities, and if this helps people with a more permanent living situation, this should be available permanently across Australia.
Could not agree with this more… can you imagine living and getting all set up and settling in – for SIX LOUSY MONTHS. And then where do they go? Do they change schools again? change work? What changes in 6 months? is the housing crisis over in 6 months? Maybe the council have a mansion round the corner for ‘affordable rent’ lined up? MATCH THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU CAN LIVE IN A CARAVAN TO THE SOCIAL HOUSING WAIT LIST – about 10 years!
Too right! Indeed, they do accommodate homeless people as priority, but if living in a caravan and there is no threat to that stability, it may not be classed as homeless. I don’t feel governments and councils are keeping up with the times and changes to local laws remain woefully inadequate to reality.
It’s not enough,and as usual too much beaurocratic red tape
This may be a great idea but with Fraser Coast Council allowing people to build on tiny blocks of land where the gutters overlap your neighbours and you can’t swing a cat in the back yard.It probably won’t work. Good idea for acreage’s.
With rentals being in short supply & the cost of renting going sky high I think that allowing a family member to live temporarily in a caravan on your suburban property is an excellent alternative.
We have quite a few in our local area, not a problem.
Yes.
Put 2 caravans in the back yard, live in one for six months then move into the other , and who will be the judge on wether you are a friend or not
where there’s a will ther’s a way thumbs up 🙂
Absolutely, many positives in having other generations living with family, and the cost of living for pensioners or disadvantaged must be so so hard. Lots of investment properties bought by O/S buyers and they just want their money back, without a care in the world for their tenants.
Councils None of their business-!!!!!¡ Get out of people’s private business.Caravan Parks become snooty & label permanents,
If sanitation is being managed I can’t see the problem with having people in caravans, sheds or any other safe structure.
Great idea, but, it said property must be fully occupied while people are staying in the caravan, what if the owners want to go on holidays, the people in the caravan can look after the property or do they have to leave to. There are lots of home owners that go on holidays and have house or property sitters in, either staying in the house or in there own caravan, especially these days with all the break ins that go on.
You should be able to do what you want on your own property
It’s your property,you pay the rates,home ownership is out of reach for many now.council should focus on potholes not people being given shelter off the street by caring family or friends
Definitely, would solve a lot of problems
Should be allowed I first hand had lost my rental as owner sold it and wanted vacant possession, so for 5 months family split up living at various places as not room enough for 5 people in one place, stuff in storage, at high cost, dog in kennels at high cost, and each had to pay rent costs , it would have been cheaper to keep family together. A caravan in yard would be great.
When no rent is involved it should be allowed 12 months of the year, if extra family moved into the main house , the council have no say.So much useless red tape.
Well said Jill if I go and live with a friend or relative in their house council has no say in it so why should they be able to decide if I can live in a caravan on that private property. Councils get out of our private lives it’s none of your business.
It’s the impact of a second dwelling on neighbouring properties that is the issue…turning a single dwelling house into an impromptu duplex
Does anyone know what the Qld laws are regarding allowing someone to live in a caravan on my land, on acreage? I think 6 months is not long enough.
I agree with most of the comments here. Councils continue to excercise too much power over rate payer’s lives. YES they should focus on potholes that cause “their” ratepayers undue expenses rather than controlling how generous these same ratepayers are to friends and family.
Good on on the Fraser Coast. What about allowing longer stays in your low and free camp spots!
Question…? 5000 signatures???
How many of this number are rate payers?
I think all …..Ratepayers …..should have been asked to vote…
not very fair to homeowners
Question…?…does this apply to lots with multiple dwellings insitu ie duplex and unit blocks??!!
We would happily buy and install a fold out container home to put in our backyard and help someone out who is struggling to find accommodation but the stupid conditions of 6 months in 12 months hardly allows a long term solution to the rental crisis problem. If council was sensible, allow permanent/ongoing occupancy with a “reasonable increase” in rates to cover sewer, trash, etc
every council should allow people to live in friends or families yards, bush blocks etc. the rules 6 months out of 12 is ridiculous, there are no rentals in my area at the moment 1 lady died in her home and it was up for rent within days and taken immediately. Our caravan park took in a few but kicked them out as soon as the holiday season started.Homes around here are dirt cheap so city folks have bought and now we have 104 Air B and B’s that displaced 100 families most of whom I know. we had a population of 1200 now only 800 live full time rest are fly in fly out and Air B and B.
What on earth is the reasoning for this? Would they rather we lived in tents or on the streets? I can’t afford to rent on Job seeker. I have a disability that prevents me from working but have been unable to get the DSP due to the way the impairment tables are set out. I was planning on buying a caravan with my super but apparently that’s not going to work either. Looks like it’s time to invest in a tent.
Yes it’s their land .U can build a chook house. They get to stay permanent ly. We are talking human beings .you shouldn’t be allowed to say they can live in their van as it surpassess to another room the dwelling has amenities. It’s their property . If U can’t allow this maybe govt need to address housing. This govt would rather see people homeless and send our money to aid other countries .Australia has disgraced itself. Stop the ridiculous brules on private land that can help the less fortunate .
most defiantley i was just recenctly kicked out of a house that i’d been staying at with my 4yr old grandson at a friends house for 4yrs,now we are left homeless, so why can’t ppl be aloud to live in caravans on property where’s this governments head at.
I purchased the property.I payed the rates on my property.and as far as I’m concerned it’s got nothing to do with the council who lives on my property. The council needs to help people instead of kicking them when they are down.I will always help family and friends.
Maybe the council should get off their bums and help these people
Agree
Yes
I dont think council should be able to tell you what to do on your property period. If you aren’t invading your neighbours privacy or being loud who really cares , and keep it tidy of cause. Just council and and government controlling our lives. Thats my rant.
Yes. Another way to reduce the housing crisis is to STOP penalise home owners with capital gains tax for the time that they rent out their primary residence while they are also living in it. It seems crazy that you can rent out your entire home and not pay capital gains tax whereas if you rent out one bedroom you lose ALL capital gains exemption for the time that you rent a room.
If property owners can’t charge rent or ask for payment then this won’t help people without family or friends with suitable properties.
So after 6 months we kick our friends/rellies out onto the street??
I have a three bedroom house and a caravan. I would to like help a loved one by letting them live in the van so I still get my home to myself and not have to clean up after another. What’s the difference between a room in the home or the van… really just council being unbelievable.
This is absolutely ridiculous. So you buy a block of land and want to build a house. You want to live in the existing shed that was on the property or in a caravan while you build your own home to save in cost but can only get to the stage where concrete. frames. Walls. Roof and windows put in but now have to leave because your 6 months is up so leave the half built home unattended and in the weather not finished for another 6 months on the Fraser coast where we have a lot of rain and break ins so if the stuff you have finished isn’t rotten or stuffed from weather. It’s stolen by thieves. Welldone Fraser coast council for a job half done. Crazy to think
Another example of council pretending to do something to help with the homeless crisis but falling far too short. Though it is commendable that they have actually done something… many councils have not. Councils have regulations in place for a reason, but in this case, they are outdated and due for an overhaul. All councils across the country need to pull their finger out and stop wasting rate payers hard earned cash to fill their own pockets.