2021-10-12 P&E Agenda - Item 2 - Attachment 6 - Cost Benefit Analysis

COST BENEFIT ASSESSMENT – PROPOSED LOCAL LAW AMENDMENT: SHORT STAY
LETTING & HOME HOSTED ACCOMMODATION


2.            PROPOSED LOCAL LAW AMENDMENT
2.1           IDENTIFYING THE ISSUE
Council indicates that the number of residential premises being purchased and used for short stay letting and home
hosted accommodation within traditionally permanent residential areas has increased due to the rise of online
booking platforms. It is presently estimated that there are nearly 5,000 properties operating short stay letting or
home hosted accommodation. Figure 2.1 on the following page highlights the number and location of currently
identified short stay accommodation premises across the Shire.

Although short-term letting and home hosted accommodation offers the opportunity for owners of premises to earn
extra income by renting out all or part of their homes, it also has the potential to lead to adverse effects on quality
of life for permanent residents given the conflicting use of traditional residential premises as short-term holiday and
event celebration accommodation versus permanent occupancy for working or retired households.

Further, many premises are managed from a distance with no local presence, management structure or regulation
to ensure appropriate use and behaviour. There is also no consistent code of conduct for guest behaviour nor for
resolving resident complaints in a timely manner 1 across the different booking platforms for short stay letting and
home hosted accommodation. Further, while the Queensland Police Service may attend to address an issue on a
particular night, the revolving doors of occupancy mean that there is no lasting effect of such a response.

Key issues identified as requiring addressing in the operation of short-term accommodation include:
•     Lack of regulation and enforcement.
•     Lack of local complaints management and resolution.
•     Number of guests and overcrowding.
•     Frequency and turnover of guests.
•     Noise disturbances.
•     Times and type of use of outdoor space.
•     Waste disposal and waste management.
•     Number of vehicles and parking.
•     Safety and security.
•     Pet nuisance management.
•     Conflict between permanent residents and visitors.

A regulatory approach to short stay letting and home hosted accommodation seeks to ensure the ongoing benefits
of short-term letting and home hosted accommodation for users and owners of premises, while minimising the
adverse effects to permanent residents and residential amenity through the lawful and safe provision of short stay
letting and home hosted accommodation and the creation of a formal avenue for timely, effective complaints
management and resolution for adversely impacted residents.




1 For example, while Airbnb has launched an Australian support line that provides a call back service for affected neighbours within 10 minutes, this

is not an industry standard and also does not necessarily mean that issues raised will be appropriately resolved.




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