Minimum standards
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This information is a guide and should not be used as a substitute for professional legal advice.
Summary
Under Victoria’s rental laws, there are basic ‘minimum standards’ that a rental property must meet if it is a private rental, public housing property or community housing property. Separate minimum standards apply to rooming houses. The standards cover things such as the condition of the property and what must be provided to meet certain levels of safety, security and comfort.
While caravans and caravan parks are not covered by these rental minimum standards, a caravan owner and caravan park owner still have duties under the law for the repair, maintenance and safety of the caravan and caravan park.
If a caravan or park owner does not follow these legal duties, there are steps you can take.
What does ‘caravan park resident’ mean?
If a caravan in a caravan park has been your main home for at least 60 days in a row or you have signed a residency agreement with the park or caravan owner, you are likely a resident and have legal rights that don’t apply to holidaymakers. Find out more on our page about caravan parks.
The information on this page is not for people who live in a caravan park in their own cabin or movable home that cannot be registered with VicRoads. These are called Part 4A dwellings and are covered by Part 4A of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. If you live in this type of dwelling, you may have a site agreement with the park owner, rather than a residency agreement. The Consumer Affairs Victoria website has more about site agreements in residential parks and villages. If you are unsure what laws apply to you, seek advice. This page has information about getting help.
Duties relating to cleanliness, safety and 'good repair'
The law says caravan park owners must keep their parks clean, safe and in ‘good repair’, including communal areas and any caravans they own.
If you are hiring a caravan, the caravan owner is responsible for keeping it in good repair. This applies no matter how old it is, what it was like when you moved in, or how much you pay in rent or hiring charges.
If you own your caravan, you are generally responsible for repairs to it, and the park owner is responsible for repairs to your site and the communal areas of the park.
For more about repairs and maintenance, including how to request repairs and what to do if they are not carried out, see our page on repairs and maintenance.
For more on park and caravan owner duties for maintenance, cleanliness and urgent repairs, see our page about the Consumer Affairs Victoria guidelines.
For a full list of caravan and park owner duties, and what to do if they are not met, see our page on caravan parks.
Duty to provide water-efficient appliances, fixtures and fittings
If you are hiring your caravan, the caravan owner has a duty to make sure that any replacement appliances, fixtures or fittings in your caravan that use or supply water meet the minimum standard for efficiency, which is a 3-star rating.
The only exception is if such an appliance cannot be installed, or cannot operate effectively, due to the age, nature and structure of the plumbing in the caravan. This means that if a 3-star rated tap or shower head does not produce sufficient water pressure because of the age of the plumbing, a one- or 2-star rated tap or shower head may be installed. If a 2-star rated tap or shower head cannot operate effectively, a one-star rated tap or shower head may be installed.
If the caravan owner replaces an appliance, such as a dishwasher or tap, with one that does not meet the minimum standard for efficiency, you may get an unusually high water bill. If this happens, you can claim compensation from the caravan owner for the entire cost of your water bills until they install an appliance that does meet the minimum standard. Find out more on our page about claiming compensation. See also the Australian Government website for water rating.
For a full list of caravan and park owner duties, and what to do if they are not met, see our page on caravan parks.
Get help and other resources
If you need support when your caravan or caravan park is not kept in good repair, help is available.
Tenants Victoria services
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Renter Support Line
For all Victorian renters.
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Live Web Chat
For all Victorian renters.
Other organisations
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Crisis accommodation services
For all Victorians.
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Community Connection Program
For Victorians who are homeless or live in low-cost accommodation.
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Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG)
For Victorians aged 50 and older.
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Justice Connect
For all Victorians.
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Victoria Legal Aid
For all Victorians.
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Federation of Community Legal Centres
For all Victorians.
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Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program (TAAP)
For Victorian renters in private rentals, rooming houses and caravan parks who are in financial hardship or affected by family violence.
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Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV)
For all Victorians.
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Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
For all Victorians.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria
For all Victorians.
There are step-by-step guides, self-help tools and other resources to assist you with understanding more about requesting urgent repairs and claiming compensation.
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Caravan parks guide
Consumer Affairs Victoria website includes a useful guide for caravan park residents, including information on repairs and maintenance.
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Online toolkit for dealing with repairs
Tenants Victoria’s Repairs Toolkit helps you understand your rights and ask for repairs.
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Repairs factsheet
Learn more about repairs and maintenance in this handy Tenants Victoria factsheet.
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Claim calculation tables
Tenants Victoria has a table template for you to calculate and record the details of your compensation claim, as well as examples.
The Residential Tenancies Act 1997 is Victoria’s main law for renting. It describes the rights and duties of renters, caravan owners and park owners in numbered sections.
The sections in this list relate to the caravan owner’s and park owner’s duties relating to repair, safety and maintenance. Click on a link to see more about the section.
- Section 164 – Owner’s responsibility for charges for non-complying appliances
- Section 178 – Caravan park owner must keep park clean and safe
- Section 178A – Caravan park owner must maintain site in good repair
- Section 179 – Duty of caravan park owner to maintain communal areas
- Section 180 – Maintenance and repair of caravans
- Section 181 – Owner must ensure appliances with an efficiency rating system installed
- Section 186 – Duties relating to caravan park rules
The Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 provide more detail and definitions, and specify updates to the Residential Tenancies Act.
The Residential Tenancies (Caravan Parks and Movable Dwellings Registration and Standards) Regulations 2024 set out the requirements and standards of structures, facilities and services in caravan parks.
