Short-term holiday letting will have tougher but fairer regulation from 2019, after the NSW Parliament passed the Government’s plan for the industry yesterday.
Minister for Better Regulation, Matt Kean, said the short-term holiday letting reforms bolster NSW’s sharing economy while clamping down on unruly guests.
“Our plan is a win-win. It acknowledges the huge financial contribution online booking platforms make to the NSW economy, but also takes a zero-tolerance approach to raucous guests,” Mr Kean said.
Mr Kean said NSW Fair Trading and industry stakeholders were developing a new Code of Conduct to manage noise levels and disruptive behaviour.
The mandatory Code will come into force next year, and will apply to online accommodation platforms, letting agents, hosts and guests across the State.
“Under our ‘two strikes and you’re out’ policy, hosts or guests who commit two serious breaches of the Code within two years will be banned for five years, and be listed on an exclusion register,” Mr Kean said.
Amendments to the Strata Schemes Management Act are also being made so owners’ corporations can pass by-laws to ban short-term letting in their block, if the host is not present, and they get a 75 per cent majority vote.
“I’ve asked NSW Fair Trading to develop ‘what you can and can’t do’ guidelines to help owners’ corporations set rules that suit their strata schemes,” Mr Kean said.
Minister for Planning and Housing, Anthony Roberts, said new state-wide planning rules would come into force next year, detailing how many days a year properties could be let.
“It’s great to see these sensible reforms pass through Parliament, giving certainty to the industry, and to all involved,” Mr Roberts said.
For more information on short-term holiday letting go to www.fairtrading.com.au
