The position being promoted by the OCN on short-term letting is profoundly flawed. Those living in Residential Strata properties and low density suburbs have already voted ‘Residential’, often using their life’s savings to purchase their homes.
The OCN/Stephen Goddard are also aware of the severe threats (from NSW State MPs and their Legal mates included) often encountered by residents who have had to fight long and hard to uphold the residential status of their properties; Masetri Towers and Bridgeport in Sydney immediately spring to mind. Also, this position is not the position arrived at by the OCN sub-committee which worked long and diligently on this issue.
To leave Strata Residents in a situation where they will not know from one week to the next if powerful forces will intercede and render their home lives intolerable is extremely unfair.
Remember well, in NSW we have a long record of Land and Environment Court case law which judges mixing short-term tourist/visitor rentals with permanent residents “fundamentally incompatible”.
When one talks about home owners’ ‘rights’ to use their residential property as a ‘ghost hotel’, pop up brothel, overnight ‘rage venu’ etc, have a word with your neighbours and persuade them to rent their properties via Airbnb. Pretty soon you’ll be wondering what in heaven’s name happened to your rights!
Oh, and we have a major crisis in Housing.
Residential housing is for the housing of Residents