An effort should be made to discourage “party houses” and development consent should be required for some forms of short stay accommodation, Lake Macquarie City Council says.
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The NSW Government has called for submissions in response to its Short Term Holiday Letting in NSW Options Paper.
The paper is a response to the rise in popularity of people letting their properties as short term or holiday accommodation – particularly through websites such as Airbnb and Stayz.
In its submission, formally moved at Monday’s meeting, Lake Macquarie Council advocated for the need for a formal framework to deal with properties that become “party houses”.
The council called for development consent to be required for short stay accommodation with five or more bedrooms – or those available for more than 90 days a year.
It also advocated for written documentation for guests specifying conditions of their stay, such as the number of people allowed at the property, as well as clear signage for residents to contact the owner or property manager if guests affect the amenity of the neighbourhood.
When the submission was first tabled earlier this month, deputy mayor Luke Cubis said it aimed to “strike a balance” between providing options for visitors and preserving amenity and safety for residents.
Nick Bielby
Nick Bielby is a crime reporter who has worked as a journalist since 2011. Having joined the Newcastle Herald in 2017, he won a Walkley Award in 2019 with Donna Page for their investigation 'Dirty Deeds', which exposed the decades of illegal dumping of toxic material in and around a Hunter waterway.
Nick Bielby is a crime reporter who has worked as a journalist since 2011. Having joined the Newcastle Herald in 2017, he won a Walkley Award in 2019 with Donna Page for their investigation 'Dirty Deeds', which exposed the decades of illegal dumping of toxic material in and around a Hunter waterway.
