Today, Airbnb landlords in NSW received an email advising: “regardless of which major party forms government in NSW after this Saturday’s election, your choice to responsibly share your home will be protected.” The (pictured) summary was provided, “Sent with ♥from Airbnb Ireland, The Watermarque Building, South Lotts Road, Ringsend, Dublin 4, VAT:9827384L” . NSW Ministers and Shadow Ministers did not respond to our questions regarding their plans to set aside the rights of r

On Thursday night some 2,500 concerned individuals, City of Sydney Councillors plus a few State MPs filled Town Hall for an assembly on Affordable Housing. Councillors tweeted that they are insanely concerned and on the verge of tears over homelessness and rental stress, yet not a single one will see to action and fines when it comes to the “Illegal Use of Residential Housing” by the likes of Airbnb and Expedia. Land and Environment Court Orders applied for and obtained by

In 2015 Airbnb’s Sam McDonagh appeared before a Federal Senate Inquiry into Tax Avoidance. When asked why Airbnb had closed numerous international offices, leaving its Ireland-based operation handling financial transactions from Australia and elsewhere, McDonagh replied that Ireland had “great talent”. Our Federal Senators replied: “Come on! And the corporate tax rate in Ireland had nothing to do with it?” A transcript of the proceedings gives clear indication of the level

Last Wednesday the Parliament of Western Australia heard testimony by Airbnb’s Brent Thomas and Sam McDonagh, plus Expedia’s Eacham Curry speaking for Stayz/HomeAway. Parliamentary Committee Chair Jessica Shaw MLA advised: “It’s important that you understand that any deliberate misleading of this Committee may be regarded as a ‘Contempt of Parliament’.” As to the veracity of the contents of Eacham Curry’s statements, one looks to the Facebook comments of the Stayz Owners Uni

According to a report in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph, Randwick Council is considering bypassing Federal Legislation and setting aside Residential Zoning to permit homes to operate as non-accredited hotels and serviced apartments for 90-nights per year. This small Council area has already lost 3,493 homes to Airbnb. Together with neighbouring Waverley (5,696 Airbnb rentals), they are approaching the City of Sydney’s 9,820 homes lost Airbnb to date. Assuming landlords comply

Under oath, before the Victorian Parliament, Michelle Chaing, US-based Public Policy Representative for Expedia/HomeAway/Stayz advised: “We have tons of terms and conditions that (clients) should most likely be reading through...” Truth be told, for someone who was flown from the US to attend Parliament and represent an Organisation worth US$10 billion+ in revenue, Ms Chaing’s testimony was fairly incoherent. Ms Chaing confirmed she had visited NSW Local Council representati

The NSW Legislative Council last night passed the Fair Trading Amendment (Short-Term Rental Accommodation) Bill 2018. The Hansard transcript of the debate can be found (introduction) here and (arguments) here. Labor’s spokesperson remarked: “notwithstanding the lack of detail about how this legislation will work, the Opposition will not oppose the bill in this House.” The Fair Trading Amendment (Short-Term Rental Accommodation) Bill 2018 will be followed by NSW Planning/Hou

Last Monday (21MAY18), Airbnb ‘letting manager’ MadeComfy raised $6m from South African wealth group Investec. Investec’s ‘head of emerging companies’ said it was the second time his company had invested in what he called a “derivative” of one of the big players in the gig economy. This funding ‘would allow MadeComfy to expand across cities, regional areas and eventually overseas’. Balmain-based MadeComfy reportedly has on its books 500 Airbnb properties in Sydney and clos

The NSW Land and Environment Court has repeatedly judged mixing short-term tourist/visitor rentals with Permanent Residents as “fundamentally incompatible” and that an agreement granted to persons who are residing in a group situation for periods of a week or less for the purposes of a holiday or bucks and hens nights, parties or for the use of escorts or strippers is not consistent with a use or occupation by a family or household group in the ordinary way of life, and there

"Byron Council recently resolved to undertake enforcement action on short term holiday let accommodation where there is reasonable suspicion of unauthorised activities occurring on the site. Further, any such holiday letting complaints/investigation will be assessed and investigated in accordance with Council’s Enforcement Policy." Council can "employ enforcement action on properties acting outside their development consent, by using their properties in contradiction of devel