NEWLY drafted regulations covering the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013 discriminate against home owners, according to the industry body.
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The Independent Park Residents Action Group (IPRAG) said the draft fails to meet the Minister for Fair Trading's promise to improve protections for more than 50,000 occupants who own their manufactured homes but rent sites in residential parks. Nelson Bay representative Ron McLachlan said there are around 3000 residents affected.
"IPRAG was formed when the former public voice in NSW, Affiliated Residential Park Residents Association (ARPRA), chose to support the new draft legislation," Mr McLachlan said.
"Many associations, including Port Stephens, withdrew from ARPRA after it received a grant of $96,000 from the Minister for Fair Trading to conduct a survey of the main concerns of park residents.
"ARPRA's total membership is now only a few hundred more than what we have in Port Stephens, but they were the only group to be invited to speak on behalf of all residents."
Park resident Len Hogg warned that pensioners who buy manufactured homes on land they don't own were highly vulnerable.
"We can't shop around and take our business elsewhere as other consumers do when services are poor or costs escalate," Mr Hogg said.
"For those forced to abandon their homes, compensation may be limited to a few thousand dollars."