Big fines for party-house owners under laws to protect neighbours
Big fines are in store for people who turn short-term accommodation into party houses under new laws to protect neighbours.
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Unruly revellers who turn short-term rentals into party houses would face hefty fines under proposed laws to protect neighbours.
The rules aimed at regulating troublesome short-term stays include $5000 penalties for property owners who fail to update an accommodation register.
Opposition tourism spokeswoman Zoe Bettison will next week lobby cross bench MPs in the state’s Upper House in a bid to get support for a Bill aimed at clamping down on “party houses.”
In December the Sunday Mail revealed a raft of wild gatherings – with bikies, strippers and all-night noise – had prompted calls for a crackdown on party houses as the popularity of short-term accommodation skyrockets.
Ms Bettison wants short-term accommodation providers to be subject to a full ownership register as well as detailing the number of beds, the maximum number of guests and the number of car spots.
Failure to update details would result in $5,000 fines.
Occupants would be held responsible for unruly parties and would face $2,000 fines for each neighbour they offend.
Ms Bettison said the short- term rental sector has provided diversity and opportunities.
“What we need now is a system that works for all South Australians,” she said.
“When its good it’s great but when it goes bad, it can be very bad.”
“Since the Sunday Mail published its article about party houses, South Australians from both regional and suburban areas have reached out to me with horror stories.
“Stays (Expedia Group) has publicly supported the Bill,” she said.
Greens MP Mark Parnell said the Bill is a good starting point to get MPs thinking about the problems for local residents who are unfortunate enough to live near one of these party houses.
“Zoe deserves kudos for releasing a draft Bill … one bit of feedback I would offer is that we should distinguish wholly-commercial holiday rentals from those that are occasional,” Mr Parnell said.
“I’m not sure that a person who rents out their home for a month or so while they are on holidays themselves should be bound by the same rules as a person who owns a property that is only ever used for short-term rental.
“I wouldn’t rule out a registration system, but it should probably only apply to properties that are only ever (or mostly) rented out for commercial purposes and where the owner is absent.”
SA Best MPs Frank Pangallo and Connie Bonaros and Advance SA MP John Darley swill be briefed on the Bill next week.