Randwick Council

Randwick Council are reported to be pondering an annual 90 days cap on short stay rental for all residential property. Source : Daily Telegraph

 

That's fair - charge a premium for the 90 days Mid-December - March, then lease out the place for the following 9 months on a traditional lease.

 

Yes - Compliant. I have seen a number of these arrangements near hospitals who tend to bring in registrars and visiting medical officers for 9-10mth terms to regional hospitals like Coffs Harbour, Port Mac and so on. Randwick is near some larger hospitals

 

And how do they propose to police that?

 

They can't, unless they are implementing a booking system of some kind.

But, assuming the Tele's article is news rather than clickbait, arguably there's a whole bunch of strata residents in the Randwick Council area, that would not find the idea that their homes are turned into quasi hotels and party houses ideal, there's a good chance the Randwick Councillors ( https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-and-councillors/mayor-and-councillors ) might find themselves unemployed at the next local govt election.

 

The proposed changes to NSW law will allow councils access to the database on short stay rentals that the new NSW laws will create. State Govt is in consult with industry parties at present.
Short-term holiday letting

Most have agreed in principle from media reports last week. If ratepayers are not compliant with regulations they could face penalties. Perhaps a caution to start ? Probably starts with information in rates notices ?

In any event Airbnb data is already freely available online and can be drilled down to the property location. Inside Airbnb: Sydney. Adding data to the debate.

It shows number of nights, property location etc. They need not be party houses.

Seems hard to police but in reality its probably easy. I suspect that the state law may contain provisions to limit specific councils making their ownrules either lax or strict. eg Randwick ?

 

Thanks for your post, Paul but there is nothing here that relates to council access to a short stay rental database.

"Seems hard to police but in reality its probably easy." I completely agree.

If only you and I were charged with monitoring of the STHL database, your latter assertion would be entirely correct.

 

Until the NSW law are actually implemented (Its approved, they need ministerial regulations for the start date and some process being finalised in negotiations) councils wont do a thing.

Talk is 1 July but of course nobody wants to announce that until after the election.