Government seeks to ban parents sleeping with kids at short-term rentals
Children and even babies could be banned from sleeping with their parents under new regulations proposed for short-term rental accommodation in NSW.
NSW
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Children and even babies won’t be able to stay in the same bedroom as their parents if they book a short-term rental holiday under proposed new regulations.
There would be a ban on any more than two people sleeping in one bedroom at holiday rentals booked through sites like Stayz and Airbnb, according to the draft paper from the Department of Planning.
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Homeowner Kathryn Sutton, 48, has a queen-sized trundle bed in a short-term rental property in Paddington, so parents can pull out a mattress for little kids. This would be banned under the proposed regulations.
“What happens if your small child crawls into bed with you in the morning, are you going to cop a fine?” Ms Sutton said.
“How is it going to be policed? Will people check bedrooms of an evening?
“It’s a ridiculous rule that will stop families enjoying holidays.”
Large homes that can host groups larger than 12 would also be banned, which would spoil the plans of large families gathering for celebrations like weddings, birthdays and Christmas, according to Stayz Corporate Affairs Director Eacham Curry.
“There are some spectacular houses, especially on the coast, with more than six bedrooms,” Mr Curry said.
“Imposing an arbitrary limit of 12 people (per property) will limit accommodation for larger groups.”
A spokeswoman from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment said the concept of the two-person per room standard is “nothing new and is widely used to manage building safety and amenity”.
“The Department is currently considering feedback on the paper and the issues raised during the exhibition,” the spokeswoman said.