The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) has finalised the State-wide policy for homeowner holiday rentals and given the industry four months to implement the changes.
Deputy Secretary of Planning and Assessment at DPIE, Marcus Ray said the final Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) policy, to come into effect on 30 July, benefited homeowners who wanted to rent out their homes and provided more certainty and safety for locals.
“This new framework follows extensive consultation with the community and the holiday-letting industry and we’re proud to finally have a clear set of rules that support the $30 billion a year industry while protecting the rights of hosts, guests and neighbours,” Mr Ray said.
“This framework includes limits on the number of days’ properties can be rented out in certain circumstances, new fire safety standards, a Government-run register, mandatory Code of Conduct and an exclusion register to ensure properties are up to scratch,” he said.
“The sector has suffered significantly during the pandemic but our whole-of-Government approach will help get businesses and homeowners back on their feet.”
Mr Ray said the STRA policy included a cap of 180 days for homes across Greater Sydney and parts of coastal and regional NSW, where the owner lived elsewhere; no cap on hosted STRA homes; minimum fire safety standards; and a Code of Conduct for hosts, guests, online booking platforms and agents.
He said DPIE received more than 2,000 submissions in response to the initial framework and worked across Government, with Councils and the industry to resolve the complex issues raised.
DPIE’s eight-page final STRA policy can be accessed at this PS News link and further information on fire safety standards and the Code of Conduct at this link.
