Whether you're a host, guest or neighbour, Illawarra residents can have their say on a raft of new rules for Airbnb-style letting.
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Last year, the NSW Parliament passed the government's plan for the short-term holiday letting industry.
The next step of the process is to finalise how the new rules and regulations for short-term rentals will work, and the government has released a new discussion paper.
The new regulatory framework includes a mandatory Code of Conduct and a possible register of all short-term rental accommodation properties.
Anthony Houghton and partner let out suites at their property, Mt Hay Retreat at Berry, year-round via platforms like Airbnb and Stayz.
As part of the changes, Illawarra councils will be able to decide if permitting short-term holiday letting for the entire year is acceptable for their local communities.
Mr Houghton said there were some concerns regarding a potential limit on the number of days hosts can rent out their properties.
"That rings alarm bells for us down here - to suddenly have the ability to rent out your property reduced from 365 days a year to half that is a huge change," he said.
"There are a lot of properties that only rent out on weekends or public holidays and school holidays... But there are quite a few who rent them out year-round, and it would be a huge imposte on their earning capacity."
Under the new "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.
"A register does make sense, especially to uphold the 'strikes and you're out' rule, which I think generally speaking is a good proposal," Mr Houghton said.
"But it's hard to give it a definite yes or no until we know the detail of how it's going to be governed.
"(For example) does someone have to go out there at 3am and actually hear that there's music pumping?
"But the number of problematic properties is very small. Certainly down here, speaking to the council, they have very few noise complaints about short-term rental accommodation."
Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said the code will provide for the resolution of complaints and disputes regarding the conduct of hosts and guests.
"The proposed code will allow for disciplinary action to be undertaken - including the issuing of warning notices and directions, recording a 'strike' against a host or guest - and the creation of an exclusion register to deal with serial offenders.
"Hosts' obligations relate to holding an appropriate level of public liability insurance and providing neighbours and owners corporations with information such as the host's contact details, and that they are bound by the Code of Conduct during their stay.
"Guests will have to ensure their behaviour does not unreasonably impact on neighbours and will be required to take reasonable care of the property."
Submissions are open until September 11.
More information: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
