Airbnb blamed for overcrowding in high-rise buildings
AIRBNB has been blamed for a growing problem in high-rise buildings across Australia, which is giving property managers a massive headache.
Travel
Don't miss out on the headlines from Travel. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ACCOMMODATION-sharing website Airbnb has been blamed for overcrowding concerns in high-rise buildings across the country forcing a crackdown by managers and agents.
The regular scouring of Airbnb and other websites including Facebook is one of the latest tactics managers are using to catch out those breaching either body corporate by-laws or tenancy agreements by subleasing properties without consent.
The Real Estate Institute of Australia’s president Neville Sanders said having too many people living under the one roof was dangerous and consequently councils were being forced to intervene.
“Airbnb or mechanisms to find short-term tenants is having an impact on overcrowding in any of these apartments, the site is a mechanism to attract these occupiers,’’ he said.
“It exceeds design criteria (of a building) and councils have the powers to inspect properties and take action.”
MORE: Tourism industry fed up with Airbnb
Mr Sanders said subletting by tenants without the owner or agent’s consent has long been a problem in the industry, particularly since the surge in online sites has helped fuel this.
Airbnb listings in Australia have doubled in the past 12 months to more than 60,000.
In Sydney George’s Street the manager of large high-rise apartment The Summit, Steve Alldritt, said overcrowding remained a serious problem in the city.
“I will flick through social media and advertising online to find people that may be subleasing,’’ he said.
“It’s a massive issue here (in the city), it’s a problem which is being tackled quite vigorously and there’s a lot of knowledge out there with building managers.’’
He said many inner-city residents living in high-rises were from overseas and to cope with expensive rent costs they were subletting which ultimately put a “burden” on buildings.
This includes increased occupational health and safety problems including increased foot traffic, overuse of facilities including lifts and much larger amounts of rubbish.
Managers said overcrowding also occurs when rooms are being leased with multiple people in them at a time.
In Melbourne Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Geoff White who also manages properties in Docklands said overcrowding was a serious concern.
“It has been an issue and it’s been quite public and relates to some apartments which could be privately managed,’’ he said.
“Airbnb is a way for them to minimise their (renting) cost.”
In Brisbane’s riverside Portside precinct, director of Portside Property Services Neil Walbank said overcrowding issues were “starting to increase as Airbnb becomes better known.”
“Body corporate by-laws state for a majority of the buildings here it’s a minimum of a three-month stay for residents,’’ he said.
“For owners (or tenants) to do a week or fortnight or overnight they are breaching the by-laws, that’s one concern we have.’’
He said it also has resulted in searches being undertaken by managers on accommodating-sharing sites to crackdown on those who are subletting without consent.
But Airbnb spokesman Dylan Smith said they proactively advise all their “hosts” to ensure they followed necessary rules and regulations depending on where they live.
“Rules governing home sharing differ from council to council and even street to street all over the country,’’ he said.
Originally published as Airbnb blamed for overcrowding in high-rise buildings
Urgent travel warning for Aussies
Escalating warfare has forced the Australian government to issue a dire warning, saying flights out of one country may soon not be an option.
After nine years what has ad man Todd Sampson done for Qantas?
As the longest-serving member of the Qantas board, Todd Sampson has been in the firing line over his contribution to the airline but is the criticism deserved?