#27575
Millie
Flatchatter

    Dear Penelope

    Do you not see the difference between a relative staying over and an Airbnb; having advertised a residential home for short-term let to tourists/visitors on a booking platform, from night one, this is a commercial use of a residential home – yes? 

    No, I have never stayed in an Airbnb and I do all within my power to avoid such circumstances.  I respect the rights of residents to housing and the rights of neighbours to their neighbourhood and communities.

    If you had watched the media stream, including Jimmy Thomson’s writings, and the Neighbours Not Strangers Facebook page/Media Releases, you would have been aware of the situation in Barcelona and practically every other city and major regional centre around the globe. Almost universally officials are endeavouring to protect the rights of citizens and neighbourhoods and communities.  

    “Australia is our most penetrated market”, Airbnb’s Sam McDonagh.  Sydney ranks 4th in the world in terms of Airbnb listings.  There is an unknown number of platforms/clones penetrating our residential housing.

    Please speak with those who have been forced to live with neighbouring properties let short-term.  The NSW Land and Environment Court discribes such a ‘mixed use’ as “fundamentally incompatible”; neighbours refer to it as “a living hell”.

    There are residents all across NSW who are calling for the residential zoning on our buildings and suburbs to be upheld and respected, with local Councils mandated to enforce Planning and Zoning legislation.  There should be no retrospective changes to the status of our homes – owners have undertaken all due dillegence when purchasing into residential strata and residential suburbs.

    So back to our legislation – NSW probably has world’s best legislation and case law.  Our Legislators should be forced to legislate.