Your Journey to Land Lease Living Starts Here

In land lease living, you buy and own your home outright and lease the land your home sits on. Your legal right to occupy the land is protected by Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003, so you have a peace of mind.

As a land lease community, you pay a weekly site fee for the right to occupy that land and access all resort facilities. There is no stamp duty, exit or deferred management fees, and you get to live in a resort-quality community.

No — and the differences are significant. In a retirement village, you typically don't own your home (you hold a licence to occupy), and when you leave, you usually pay a deferred management fee of 10–35% of your sale price to the operator. In a land lease community like Living Gems, you own your home with full legal title and lease the land, there are no exit fees, and you keep 100% of any capital gains when you sell.

The Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003 (Qld) governs all land lease communities in Queensland. It covers your rights regarding site fees, security of tenure, dispute resolution, and the limited circumstances in which a site agreement can be terminated. Site fee increases are capped under the Act at the higher of CPI or 3.5% per year. The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) handles any disputes.

In practice, no — not without significant legal process and valid grounds. Your site agreement continues beyond any fixed term. An operator can only terminate a site agreement in very limited, legislatively defined circumstances (such as serious breach of community rules or abandonment of the home). Any termination is subject to QCAT oversight. This gives residents a strong, legally backed security of tenure.

Your weekly site fee is your payment to Living Gems to lease the land and access to all resort facilities, as well as, community maintenance and landscaping, on-site management, and security infrastructure. It does not cover your personal utilities or home insurance. Site fee increases are regulated and capped under Queensland legislation.

No. Because you are purchasing the home (a manufactured or modular dwelling) rather than buying land and a freehold title. This is one of the most significant financial advantages of the land lease model — the Property Council of Australia estimates stamp duty and related costs can reach $75,000 when downsizing through traditional freehold purchase.

Generally, yes, subject to community rules and any relevant building approvals. Minor improvements and personalisation are typically permitted. Structural changes or additions usually require approval from Living Gems as the site operator and may require relevant council or building permits. Your site agreement and community rules document will outline the specific requirements.

Your home is an asset you can pass onto family — it belongs to your estate, just like residential property. Your executor can arrange the sale of the home. There is no complex exit arrangement, no deferred fee triggered by your passing, and no requirement for the operator to repurchase the home.