Victorian government under pressure to change Airbnb rules
Melbourne’s hotels have demanded that the state government do something about Airbnb turning houses and apartments into quasi-hotels.
The Environment and Planning Committee is looking into the impact of short-stay rentals on families, residents, apartment owners and owners corporations.
It is also investigating well the adequacy of owners’; corp rules to deal with that impact.
The Australian Hotels Association chief executive Paddy O’Sullivan told the hearing that the government had to step in to discourage residential lots from becoming quasi-hotels.
"It is jeopardising our regulated space," O’Sullivan said.
"Bad behaviour in hotels can be dealt with on the spot," he said. "In unregulated accommodation space, liquor and EPA laws don't apply.
"The lines are blurred here and it requires clarification."
The problem, he said, was that there were no laws dealing with unregulated facilities, food and fire safety, liquor licensing, public liability insurance, disability access and taxation.
The Holiday Rental Industry Association says the government’s legislation, is draconian and unfair.
HRIA director Trevor Atherton said the legislation leaves innocent owners liable for the sins of their guests.
He has suggested any changes be set aside for two years, making way for a self-regulatory code of conduct to be promoted and implemented.
“Make the culprit pay, throw the book at the misbehaving person,” Mr Atherton submitted.
It’s a proposal that would see an established complaint triggering a delisting of the property on Stayz.
Still, he conceded that Airbnb does not subscribe to the code.
As an example, the HRIA used Flinders Wharf, a building of 300 residents, where up to 74 are short-term accommodation and 14 are Airbnb apartments.
The association trialled brochure distribution about the code of conduct as part of a process of education from December 16.
Despite it being a key high period of disturbance, there were no adverse complaints.
by Leon Gettler, March 27th 2017
