In a recent online statement, Expedia (HomeAway/Stayz) promised to update corporate landlords on its lobbying within the NSW Parliament over the right to access and utilise all residential housing for the purposes of commercial holiday/visitor rentals. Having employed the services of Government Relations firm Barton Deakin, which was founded in 2009 by Liberal powerbroker and former Leader of the NSW Opposition Peter Collins, Expedia (HomeAway/Stayz) has enjoyed access to an

In yesterday’s Byron Shire Echo (page 9), local John Gudgeon broke what appears to be a two-year silence, claiming: “Holiday letting is still legal in Byron LGA (local government area) Residential Zones without development consent. It was always an innominate residential use as is longterm (sic) renting.” Dudgeon is ‘president’ of HLO (Holiday Letting Organisation Byron). Along with Grant Hawkins, Partner, Byron Bay Accom, “a $4 Million Accommodation Booking Service” (81 sh

Deputy Premier John Barilaro has taken to radio, telling 2GB’s audience that he is pushing to have household gathering limits at least doubled, from 20 to 40 people, or eliminating a cap on numbers altogether. It would be “a reward for our citizens for doing the right thing”. The thing is, Barilaro’s seven bedroom Dungowan Estate sleeps 20, and pre-COVID, it was a popular spot for weddings. A look at the Deputy Premier’s Stayz listing sees, “this property is already 87% fu

In a circular sent this morning, Expedia (Stayz) wants “to get you and your family excited about planning your next trip together”. The Stayz email claims they have 3,660 homes on the Sunshine Coast, 1,390 homes in Cowes, 322 homes in Port Fairy, 2,016 homes in Rye, and 2,014 homes in Brisbane. In terms of homes lost to Airbnb, latest data (20/10/2020) from Inside Airbnb indicates that some 34,277 homes have been removed from the Sydney long-term housing market. ASTRA, th

On 27 October 2020, NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson issued a Media release. The Minister correctly labelled the commercial use of residential housing an ‘Industry’ that has “exploded in recent years”. The Minister also claimed the sector is now worth “$30 billion a year…that has gone from strength to strength”. The purpose of the Media release was to announce “strict new laws to regulate short-term rentals”. A (replacement) Code of Conduc

In recent months, due of course to COVID-19, things have slowed a little for short-term rental operators. ASTRA Chair Rob Jeffres still appears to have some 430+ homes listed as holiday rentals, so business can’t be too bad. Jeffres told Travel Trends this week that he welcomes a new ‘Code of Conduct’ for the short-term rental industry in NSW. Of course, this Code supersedes the Code adopted in May 2012, which has seen no enforcement measures and zero penalties applied.