Airbnb gets a tick in New South Wales
In a big win for Airbnb, a report to the Baird government says home owners should be allowed to use online house sharing websites so that they can make a bit of money letting out rooms to holiday makers.
The 18-month New South Wales parliamentary inquiry has given sharing services like Airbnb the nod, in effect creating rules across the state when only 12 New South Wales councils currently allow owners to lease short-term stays on their properties through websites such as Airbnb.
This is important when other councils don’t have any rules regulating the growing sharing industry.
The report will be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday. If it’s approved by the Baird government, home sharing will be regulated for the first time across New South Wales.
The inquiry has also recommended a single set of rules to manage the industry.
For example, investors who want to rent out empty properties for short stays will have to work to a code of conduct.
Also, they will need to seek council approval as a "complying development". That’s faster than seeking development approval.
The report also recommends Queensland “party house’’ rules allowing councils to designate properties hosting regular hens or bucks nights and raves for stricter rules and penalties. And party houses will be restricted to particular precincts.
Other proposed rules include a crackdown on rogue "party houses", in the wake of neighbour complaints about constant noise, parking problems and "vomiting bridesmaids".
If problems arise, the report is expected to recommend strata managers take complaints to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
"The sharing economy is booming in NSW as more people are finding creative ways to turn unused things into income," the Liberal MP for Oatley, Mark Coure, chairman of parliament's environment and planning committee told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"This report is about giving certainty. Not everyone is a winner, but we have tried to get the balance right for consumers, home owners and the wider community."
"Most houses are breaking the law. We want to see a standard applied across the state.”
by Leon Gettler, October 18th 2016
