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Real estate agents, strata managers and owners corporations are whipping themselves into a frenzy over the apparent threat from holiday letting – and airbnb in particular. A lot of it is ill informed and in self interest.
We have a house that is now on a combination of airbnb, Stayz and bookings.com. The best of them by far is airbnb. The guests have been fantastic and the house has never been in better condition.
When it was under longer term leasing we had continual problems. When the tenants left the place was stinking and run down.
We changed to airbnb. Now we have a gardener that keeps the outside looking great and a cleaner that is in there all the time giving the place a thorough clean after every guest. We see the house regularly. It is kept like a palace.
We’ve never had a single problem with any guest – no theft, broken furniture, loud noises or foul messes. They leave the place in excellent condition, they communicate before and after their stays and they are a pleasure to deal with.
The airbnb system is fantastic because both sides rate each other. If i were to misrepresent the property, guests would report it and give me poor ratings which will affect my future bookings. Equally if a guest were to do the wrong thing, i get to rate them and it would make it difficult for them to use airbnb in the future.
Holiday letting is not for everyone. Income can be very seasonal and patchy and it is only viable in holiday locations or close to a CBD to get enough guests. As such, it is not impacting supply of properties for rent.
airbnb and other portals are here to stay and they are fantastic improvement over long term leasing for some people. Let the market find the right level rather than over-regulate.
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OK, first of all, you are talking about a house where the impact on your neighbours is likely to be be minimal. Google “Bridgeport” and “Watergate, Docklands” if you want to see how bad it can get in an apartment block that’s been turned into a virtual hotel.
Secondly, this comment:
… it is only viable in holiday locations or close to a CBD to get enough guests. As such, it is not impacting supply of properties for rent.
That’s just not true. The most-used area of Sydney according to Airbnb’s own figures is Darlinghurst, which is neither a holiday area nor particularly close to the CBD.
Also, rents have gone up more than three times as much in areas where Airbnb is more active than they have in the rest of the city as a whole, so you can’t say there has been no impact.
So, yes, there’s a lot of hysteria going around – both pro and anti short-stay lets.
But my view, for what it’s worth: residential flats and houses are for residents (and their bona fide guests). Hotels and motels are for holidaymakers and business people.
If there isn’t enough holiday letting accommodation, build more and let people invest in places where they aren’t leeching off their strata neighbours’ shared facilities.
Just because you can fudge the line doesn’t mean you should.
The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.
lewdog……”it is only viable in holiday locations or close to a CBD to get enough guests. As such, it is not impacting supply of properties for rent.” And: “The guests have been fantastic and the house has never been in better condition.”
Figures compiled today:
City of Sydney Council: 6,008 homes on Airbnb/Stayz – 931 homes on Domain
Waverley Council Area: 4,498 homes on Airbnb/Stayz – 382 homes on Domain
Randwick Council Area: 2,649 homes on Airbnb/Stayz – 495 homes on Domain
Byron Shire Council: 2,280 homes on Airbnb/Stayz – 50 homes on Domain
(The list goes on.)
NSW Land and Environment Court: Mixing short-term lets/serviced apartments with permanent residential occupancy is “fundamentally incompatible”. That goes for free-standing houses as well as apartment buildings. I’ve lived with it. It’s “HELL“. Short-term landlords still control the Strata Committee.
Short-term lets in residential housing are driven by higher financial returns – pure and simple.
Residential Housing is for the housing of Residents.
(www.neighboursnotstrangers.com) (www.bridgeportapartmentssydney.org)
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