2019-02-12 Attachment 1 to Item 7 - Short Term Accom Online Platform Issues Paper

Table 10. Auckland Council – Methodology for APTR rates – Short Term Rentals
   Number of nights
                           APTR Rates Level                         General property rates level
   booked per year
 Up to 28                  Does not apply                           Continue to be rated as residential
                           25% of APTR if the property is in zone   Rated as 75% residential and 25%
 29 to 135
                           A or B                                   business
                           50% of APTR if the property is in zone   Rated as 50% residential and 50%
 136 to 180
                           A or B                                   business
                           100% of the APTR if the property is in
 More than 180                                                      Rates as business
                           zone A or B

The rate also applies where only part of the property is used for short-term accommodation, for
example of accommodation services are provided in a self-contained dwelling such as a studio unit
or granny flat, whilst the owner resides in the main residence on the property. Auckland Council is
assessing these situations on a case-by-case basis.

The introduction of the new accommodation rate has significantly increased rates for some property
owners, whilst other property owners have had minimal increases. A number of accommodation
providers have formed the Commercial Accommodation Rate Payers (CARP) group and have
commenced a judicial review in the High Court in Auckland to challenge the legality of the
accommodation targeted rate. As at November 2018, the judicial review is ongoing.

The Auckland Council has publicly stated that a shortcoming of the new rating method is that it
cannot identify all property owners that should be paying an accommodation rate, particularly without
the co-operation of the online booking platforms.


6.9      Yountville, Napa Valley, California
The approach taken in Yountville is an example of a strict legislative response to online booking sites
such as Airbnb, allowing the Town Council to issue legislative subpoenas and obtain records of all
rentals within the Town Council area. The approach supported the Town Council’s decision to be
diligent on code enforcement and to protect residents from the negative impacts of short term rentals.

Whilst such a legislative enforcement of obtaining information may not be feasible or suitable in
Australia, it is interesting to note that this level of response has occurred elsewhere and provides
some perspective to the arguably comparable mild response to seek a register of short-term rented
properties within the Noosa shire.


6.10     Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona has a vigilant permit system to control the number of short-term rentals across the city.
Barcelona Council requires all short-term rentals to obtain a council licence. The city is zoned
differentially - some where the number of licences can remain the same (prospective landlords have
to await license availability), some where the number of licences are allowed to increase, some
where the number is set to decrease (i.e. no new licences awarded even if others are not renewed).
To foster compliance to licensing, there's a 'flat detector' website to allow citizens and visitors to
report unlicensed dwellings:

http://meet.barcelona.cat/habitatgesturistics/en




Short Term Accommodation - Online Platform Response Issues Paper                                    Page 27