Implement a Tiny House on Wheels/Caravan Living Policy in the Yarra Ranges
Implement a Tiny House on Wheels/Caravan Living Policy in the Yarra Ranges
The issue
The immediate issue
The Yarra Ranges council must create its own Tiny House on wheels (THOWs)/Caravan living policy, similar to those of the Mt Alexander Shire and Surf Coast Shire in Victoria. Leading the way on finding solutions to the housing and cost of living crisis for its residents.
Update: Please contact your local member and let them know you want a permit process in place to allow caravans to be lived in on private property in the Yarra Ranges. This would be a step forward.
This policy will protect its residences from housing insecurity and risk of homelessness, the council’s current approach and interpretation of the building codes does not allow for flexible housing solutions.
We know of four individuals who are currently at risk of homelessness because of 60 Day Building Orders to leave, including ourselves.
Benny and I have been a residents of the Yarra Ranges for the last two and a half years. I am the registered carer for my partner who suffers a chronic health condition. We both contribute to the community greatly, volunteer at our local community radio station and spend our resources locally everyday.
We received a building order to vacate our Tiny House on Wheels, which is a roadworthy caravan, meets the Transport Victoria Standards and is on a chassis. We have been in communication with the Planning and Building teams over the past six months, as we believed that we were within our rights to ‘camp on private property without causing a nuisance’, as per the local laws.
We are not the only people in the Yarra Ranges who have received a Building Order to vacate our THOWs. Dayne Barkley, in Monbulk, was given a building order to vacate within 60 days. His THOW is completely off-grid and self-sustainable.
However the Planning and Building teams at the Yarra Ranges have informed us they believe that anything anyone lives in, even a vehicle on wheels, becomes a building if it is lived in full time. This contradicts the local laws and state classifications. We have tirelessly tried to negotiate changes that would allow us to stay, but they have told us the only next step is VCAT.
Update: Check out page 106 of the Yarra Ranges published housing policy, makes it pretty clear to us that Tiny Houses on wheels are caravans and are managed by the Local Laws and not the Building Code.
”Given these variables, there is currently no standard definition in the Victorian Planning System for tiny houses, but rather Yarra Ranges Council defines and regulates them on a case-by-case basis. For example, if a tiny house is on wheels and moveable, in many cases it is considered a caravan, which is not generally regulated by the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme but rather is subject to Council's Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law 12.3 (Caravans).”
We the residents, do not want the procedure in these situations that are only going to be more and more prevalent, to ask low income families to take legal action to resolve the situation for the council. They should instead be working with us to find an appropriate process.
There are many families that are put at risk of losing a roof over their head with the council’s requirement that all caravans have building permits to be lived in on an ongoing basis, which is a standard they cannot meet as vehicles. We ask that all building order decisions on existing THOWs be paused until more up to date and relevant procedures can be created in partnership with at-risk families.
It is our belief that Planning and Building are overstepping their jurisdiction by deciding that all caravans are now buildings if lived-in on an ongoing basis. They have stated this interpretation to us in an email. It is not their place to apply building regulations to our THOW and as it is the local councilors' right to determine how caravans are used on private property as per local laws.
The spirit of the law is not being respected. They're attempting to intimidate and chase people out after we’ve found our own housing solutions.
Living in a Tiny House on Wheels/Caravan has been our safety net whilst my partner recovers and was out of work for almost two years.
We intend to stay here without causing a nuisance and intend to continue doing so within the guidelines of the law.
The local solution
Many other councils have worked with their local community to develop appropriate laws for their area, an example from Surf Coast Shire includes the following definitions and interpretations: “tiny house on wheels is defined as a provisional form of accommodation designed to be used as a dwelling and registered or required to be registered under the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic), and excludes recreational registrable vehicles such as a caravans, wagons or vans.”
“The pilot focuses entirely on possibilities for affordable housing and key worker accommodation, and does not permit THOWs for short-term leisure-style accommodation.”
This reflects that they are hoping to allow permanent residents to reside in their temporary dwellings, rather than for airbnb purposes etc. as part of addressing specific housing issues in the area.
Their desire to understand the needs of the community led to creating a policy based on the local area, eg. understanding of bushfire safety etc. Quote, “Tiny houses on wheels must not be made of canvas or other similar material, and must be built to the relevant Bushfire Attack Level requirements where in a bushfire prone area.”
We, the residents of the Yarra Ranges, want to work with council to develop similar laws that meet a minimum requirement but also allow for individuals to live in temporary dwellings as part of having affordable housing options. We are very open to working with the council to develop waste management and zoning policies in relation to this approach, it can be done safely and with consideration, without needing to currently kick people out of their homes. Please refer to Mt Alexander Shire’s page for examples.
Changing this approach is a critical way we can create options for residents to stay in the area and can share resources. We understand it’s complex but see a very important issue here, that could be of benefit to everyone in the council area. It needs to start off with a small step forward and pausing any decisions on current THOWs in the council area. We strongly believe an appropriate housing policy can be created to welcome people into the Yarra Ranges with a modern understanding of temporary dwellings and their role in the community.
We have experienced immense and overwhelming housing stress as a fallout from this process of harassment and it has had a deep and lasting impact on our day-to-day lives and relationship to the Yarra Ranges.
Next steps, how you can help
Please sign this petition to show your support and share it with your friends. This will be tabled for the next council meeting on March 25th* 2025. *date updated
If you are a Yarra Ranges resident please copy the below template to send your relevant councilor for your local area [can be found on the website linked here] in the Yarra Ranges, edit how you please:
~
Dear Cr X,
I request that the Yarra Ranges stop dispensing Building Orders against at-risk residents living peacefully in their THOWs/Caravans. As per our local laws which allow this.
I want the Yarra Ranges council to create its own Tiny House on wheels (THOWs)/Caravan living policy. Leading the way on finding solutions to the housing and cost of living crisis for its residents.
This policy will protect its residences from housing insecurity and risk of homelessness, the council’s current approach and interpretation of the building codes does not allow for flexible housing solutions.
There are many families that are put at risk of losing a roof over their head with the council’s requirement that all caravans have building permits to be lived in on an ongoing basis, which is a standard they cannot meet as vehicles. We ask that all building order decisions on existing THOWs be paused until more up to date and relevant procedures can be created in partnership with at-risk families.
This is a critical part of our council area's unique needs and this policy is critical to my vote.
~
Further reading to research further on this issue:
1,666
The issue
The immediate issue
The Yarra Ranges council must create its own Tiny House on wheels (THOWs)/Caravan living policy, similar to those of the Mt Alexander Shire and Surf Coast Shire in Victoria. Leading the way on finding solutions to the housing and cost of living crisis for its residents.
Update: Please contact your local member and let them know you want a permit process in place to allow caravans to be lived in on private property in the Yarra Ranges. This would be a step forward.
This policy will protect its residences from housing insecurity and risk of homelessness, the council’s current approach and interpretation of the building codes does not allow for flexible housing solutions.
We know of four individuals who are currently at risk of homelessness because of 60 Day Building Orders to leave, including ourselves.
Benny and I have been a residents of the Yarra Ranges for the last two and a half years. I am the registered carer for my partner who suffers a chronic health condition. We both contribute to the community greatly, volunteer at our local community radio station and spend our resources locally everyday.
We received a building order to vacate our Tiny House on Wheels, which is a roadworthy caravan, meets the Transport Victoria Standards and is on a chassis. We have been in communication with the Planning and Building teams over the past six months, as we believed that we were within our rights to ‘camp on private property without causing a nuisance’, as per the local laws.
We are not the only people in the Yarra Ranges who have received a Building Order to vacate our THOWs. Dayne Barkley, in Monbulk, was given a building order to vacate within 60 days. His THOW is completely off-grid and self-sustainable.
However the Planning and Building teams at the Yarra Ranges have informed us they believe that anything anyone lives in, even a vehicle on wheels, becomes a building if it is lived in full time. This contradicts the local laws and state classifications. We have tirelessly tried to negotiate changes that would allow us to stay, but they have told us the only next step is VCAT.
Update: Check out page 106 of the Yarra Ranges published housing policy, makes it pretty clear to us that Tiny Houses on wheels are caravans and are managed by the Local Laws and not the Building Code.
”Given these variables, there is currently no standard definition in the Victorian Planning System for tiny houses, but rather Yarra Ranges Council defines and regulates them on a case-by-case basis. For example, if a tiny house is on wheels and moveable, in many cases it is considered a caravan, which is not generally regulated by the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme but rather is subject to Council's Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law 12.3 (Caravans).”
We the residents, do not want the procedure in these situations that are only going to be more and more prevalent, to ask low income families to take legal action to resolve the situation for the council. They should instead be working with us to find an appropriate process.
There are many families that are put at risk of losing a roof over their head with the council’s requirement that all caravans have building permits to be lived in on an ongoing basis, which is a standard they cannot meet as vehicles. We ask that all building order decisions on existing THOWs be paused until more up to date and relevant procedures can be created in partnership with at-risk families.
It is our belief that Planning and Building are overstepping their jurisdiction by deciding that all caravans are now buildings if lived-in on an ongoing basis. They have stated this interpretation to us in an email. It is not their place to apply building regulations to our THOW and as it is the local councilors' right to determine how caravans are used on private property as per local laws.
The spirit of the law is not being respected. They're attempting to intimidate and chase people out after we’ve found our own housing solutions.
Living in a Tiny House on Wheels/Caravan has been our safety net whilst my partner recovers and was out of work for almost two years.
We intend to stay here without causing a nuisance and intend to continue doing so within the guidelines of the law.
The local solution
Many other councils have worked with their local community to develop appropriate laws for their area, an example from Surf Coast Shire includes the following definitions and interpretations: “tiny house on wheels is defined as a provisional form of accommodation designed to be used as a dwelling and registered or required to be registered under the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic), and excludes recreational registrable vehicles such as a caravans, wagons or vans.”
“The pilot focuses entirely on possibilities for affordable housing and key worker accommodation, and does not permit THOWs for short-term leisure-style accommodation.”
This reflects that they are hoping to allow permanent residents to reside in their temporary dwellings, rather than for airbnb purposes etc. as part of addressing specific housing issues in the area.
Their desire to understand the needs of the community led to creating a policy based on the local area, eg. understanding of bushfire safety etc. Quote, “Tiny houses on wheels must not be made of canvas or other similar material, and must be built to the relevant Bushfire Attack Level requirements where in a bushfire prone area.”
We, the residents of the Yarra Ranges, want to work with council to develop similar laws that meet a minimum requirement but also allow for individuals to live in temporary dwellings as part of having affordable housing options. We are very open to working with the council to develop waste management and zoning policies in relation to this approach, it can be done safely and with consideration, without needing to currently kick people out of their homes. Please refer to Mt Alexander Shire’s page for examples.
Changing this approach is a critical way we can create options for residents to stay in the area and can share resources. We understand it’s complex but see a very important issue here, that could be of benefit to everyone in the council area. It needs to start off with a small step forward and pausing any decisions on current THOWs in the council area. We strongly believe an appropriate housing policy can be created to welcome people into the Yarra Ranges with a modern understanding of temporary dwellings and their role in the community.
We have experienced immense and overwhelming housing stress as a fallout from this process of harassment and it has had a deep and lasting impact on our day-to-day lives and relationship to the Yarra Ranges.
Next steps, how you can help
Please sign this petition to show your support and share it with your friends. This will be tabled for the next council meeting on March 25th* 2025. *date updated
If you are a Yarra Ranges resident please copy the below template to send your relevant councilor for your local area [can be found on the website linked here] in the Yarra Ranges, edit how you please:
~
Dear Cr X,
I request that the Yarra Ranges stop dispensing Building Orders against at-risk residents living peacefully in their THOWs/Caravans. As per our local laws which allow this.
I want the Yarra Ranges council to create its own Tiny House on wheels (THOWs)/Caravan living policy. Leading the way on finding solutions to the housing and cost of living crisis for its residents.
This policy will protect its residences from housing insecurity and risk of homelessness, the council’s current approach and interpretation of the building codes does not allow for flexible housing solutions.
There are many families that are put at risk of losing a roof over their head with the council’s requirement that all caravans have building permits to be lived in on an ongoing basis, which is a standard they cannot meet as vehicles. We ask that all building order decisions on existing THOWs be paused until more up to date and relevant procedures can be created in partnership with at-risk families.
This is a critical part of our council area's unique needs and this policy is critical to my vote.
~
Further reading to research further on this issue:
1,666
The Decision Makers
Supporter voices
Petition created on 5 February 2025