The government’s proposed planning framework for short term letting is weak and will allow residential homes in areas of high tourist demand like the CBD, Darlinghurst and Paddington to be replaced with tourist accommodation. Short term letting for up to 180 days a year will be treated as exempt development which means there will be no council oversight or control. Councils will not be able to plan for facilities or stop the loss of residential housing. No new enforcement powers are planned, which will encourage non-compliance with the 180-day limit because short term letting can be more profitable than having long term tenants. In fact a new AHURI report released this month found that almost 15 per cent of rental homes in popular areas have been replaced with short term rentals.

My submission again called for a mandatory registration system and asked the government to hold community workshops so that people can raise concerns and get responses.

My submission is HERE.