Short-term rental accommodation (STRA) is big business in Australia, worth an estimated $31.3 billion in 2016. With around half of that figure attributed to New South Wales, reform to this major industry is long overdue.
After years of operating with little oversight, the New South Wales Government passed legislation in 2018 that would begin the process of regulating the STRA market.
Now, REINSW has lodged a submission on the draft framework, citing significant changes.
Among the recommendations made by REINSW is for the creation and implementation of Government run registers.
“In order for the new STRA reforms to work as the Government intends, there needs to be a Guest Register and Host Register established in addition to the Exclusion Register and Property Register,” says REINSW CEO Tim McKibbin.
“Booking platforms must require hosts to include their registration numbers as a mandatory field when listing properties.
"If online booking platforms adhere to the registration system, hosts will have to comply, as they wouldn’t be able to list their property without having a registration number.
"The registers will also show whether a strike has been recorded against the host or guest, or whether the host or guest has been recorded on the exclusion register. This will leave consumers better informed,” says McKibbin.
Other suggestions include the mandatory introduction of both landlord insurance and strata insurance and that hosts within a strata building provide relevant information to the owners corporation and occupants, before guests arrive at their property.
“For too long this industry has gone without regulation,” says McKibbin.
“There needs to be strong operational guidelines for an industry of this size. Currently, the lack of policy around short-term letting is leaving everyone exposed.”
KEY TAKEOUT’S FROM THE REINSW SUBMISSION:
- Draft requirements would make it mandatory for smoke alarms to be put in every bedroom of a STRA dwelling. REINSW has recommended against this, and for requirements to instead be consistent with residential properties used for private longer-term rentals
- Under the changes the host would be responsible for “damage to or loss of a guest’s or visitor’s property”, this differs from hotels where the responsibility for damaged or lost items is on the guest and from private residential tenancy arrangements where the responsibility is on tenants. REINSW argues whoever is responsible for loss or damage of items should bear the cost
- REINSW has argued strata insurance must be mandatory to protect the owners corporation against losses caused by STRA activities (regardless of whether the lot owner consented to such activities)
- REINSW recommends the draft Code of Conduct make it mandatory for owners to take out landlords insurance
- REINSW recommends hosts should be required to provide relevant information to the owners corporation and occupants, before guests arrive at their property
- REINSW recommends any host wishing to list their property for STRA should be required to sign up to a Property Register and obtain a registration number after proving their identity, as well as their ownership of the property or right to sublease
- REINSW submits booking platforms should require this registration number, before a host can list their property
- REINSW recommends potential guests must also sign up to a register and provide necessary documents of identification
- REINSW submits both hosts/guests have access to the registers to see whether a host/guest has a strike against them, or if they are listed on the exclusion register
- REINSW submits the government should run and oversee these registers in order to protect privacy and ensure compliance
- REINSW recommends hosts be given a rectification period, before a strike is recorded against them
- REINSW suggests the host register must include a list of all appropriate insurances, the principal contact for the host and any building emergency contact numbers
- REINSW suggests hosts should be required to provide their tax file numbers in the register, to encourage them to declare the income
- REINSW recommends a mandatory statutory review of legislative reforms every three years since they are ground-breaking and new to the industry
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For more information, please contact:
Emma Handreck + 61 2 8267 0537 | [email protected]
About REINSW
The Real Estate Institute of New South Wales (REINSW) is the peak industry body for real estate agents and property professionals in NSW. It represents more than 2000 agencies across residential sales, property management, commercial, strata management, buyers’ agency, agency services and auctioneering. Established in 1910, REINSW works to improve the standards, professionalism and expertise of its members to continually evolve and innovate the industry. It lobbies the government and industry on behalf of members, develops new products and services to benefit agencies and professionals, and offers training and ongoing professional development. For more information, visit reinsw.com.au.