‘Caravans, camping could be a solution to social housing and the pressure coming over next five to six years’: Daniel Sahlberg

Mobile homes could be used to alleviate Victoria’s housing crisis, with a peak caravan industry body saying it’s time to think “out of the box”. It comes amid increasing demand for camping sites.

The head of Victoria’s booming caravan industry has called on governments to use mobile homes to tackle the housing crisis, encouraging downsizers and providing temporary accommodation for those in need.

Close to 96 per cent of the nation’s caravans are made in Victoria and they are now being considered to provide an accommodation boost to the Commonwealth Games and to lure more tourists into regional areas.

But Caravan Industry Victoria chief Daniel Sahlberg said the housing affordability situation was so bad it was time to also think about how the sector can keep a roof over people’s heads.

Governments could order quality caravans to work as temporary accommodation until major social housing projects were completed.

Caravan Industry Victoria chief Daniel Sahlberg says the housing affordability situation is so bad it could be time for the government to consider vans as an alternative. Picture: Supplied

Older Victorians could also be incentivised to free up larger houses for younger families, with caravans increasingly replacing the traditional granny flat.

Mr Sahlberg it was time for an “out of the box” solution as rental costs soar and thousands of households on fixed loans start to feel the pinch of higher interest rates.

“We can work with the industry to design products specifically for different tailored markets,” he said.

“We think that caravans or camping could be a solution to social housing and the pressure that we’re coming to over the next five to six years “

Mr Sahlberg said caravans were no longer mostly for older Australians.

“The average age for people purchasing our products are around 44,” he said.

“25 per cent of the people that are buying caravans at the moment have children between three and 11.”

Demand is rising at caravan and camping parks as Victorians have been squeezed out of the market.

Despite applying for a number of rental properties since moving from Shepparton, Booker has now been a resident of Lilydale Pine Hill Caravan Park for more than a year.

He has applied for more than 50 one and two-bedroom homes from Lilydale to Whittlesea, asking for up to $500 a week.

“I understand that landlords are a bit hesitant to have a single, young man renting out a place,” Booker said.

“But for the amount of places I’ve applied and how good my references are, it just baffles me,” he said.

Lilydale Pine Hill Caravan Park owner Janette Wescombe said she’d had an influx of inquiries from people seeking a plot to live in tents.

Ben and Michelle Jenkins in a top-of-the-range mobile home. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“Quite a few of them do not have much prospect of being able to get into the mainstream rental market,” Ms Wescombe said.

“I mean, these people are working … and they’ve come to us.”

G’day Group, parent company to caravan park organisation Discovery Parks, chief operating officer Matt Lang said over the past 12 months their parks received a surge of inquiries from people in need of emergency housing.

“While we strive to accommodate members of the community impacted by housing stress and natural disasters, the maximum length of stay is capped at 28 days,” he said.

“We are, however, seeing an increased number of people staying longer than in prior years.

“As a business, we are also looking at how we can deliver long-term affordable housing solutions.”

They are building 90 homes just across the Murray River from Echuca in Moama West.