Stayz, Airbnb hit back after IPC‘s advice on proposed 60-day short-term rental cap in Byron Shire
Holiday rental platforms like Stayz and Airbnb have come out swinging against a recommended 60-day cap on Byron holiday rentals - while council is thrilled. Here’s the latest.
Regional News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Regional News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A major breakthrough that could drastically shake up Byron Shire’s short-term rental market has been applauded by some, but holiday letting behemoths Stayz and Airbnb are up in arms.
The NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) recently released advice stating a previously planned 90-day annual cap on short term rentals in Byron Bay could “lead to unintended adverse consequences”.
However, the commission wrote in its long-awaited report that a “60-day cap is more likely to have the desired effect” in the holiday hot spot.
The debate around short-term rentals, community amenity and housing availability in Byron Bay and the rest of the shire has been a hot-button issue for years now, and particularly in the wake of the sweeping Northern Rivers floods in 2022.
Local governments across the country have struggled to cope with an influx of holiday homes as the industry expands, but visitors snapping them up pump big bucks into local economies.
Byron Shire Council Mayor Michael Lyon was one of the key voices who was thrilled with the 60-day cap recommendation.
“They listened to a broad range of feedback from various stakeholders and they have come up with a suite of recommendations that go to the heart of the matter and can give the council the power that we need to regulate holiday letting in a way that will protect our housing supply,” he said.
But Stayz director of corporate affairs Eacham Curry said the proposed cap would “not be a magic bullet” for housing availability and other concerns.
“Issues of housing availability and affordability are complex and extensive,” he said.
“The problems the nation is currently facing have been decades in the making and are more likely the result of costly and arduous planning approval processes and too little land being released for housing development.”
Mr Curry even argued the short-term let sector had minimal to no impact on housing stock.
“Even if the entire (short-term rental accommodation) sector were to be shut down overnight, there would be minimal, if any, impact on current housing stock becoming more affordable or accessible,” he said.
Mr Curry said many properties listed on short-term rental platforms were luxury residences, which would not be affordable to most tenants.
He said short-term letting platforms like Stayz were “a critical driver” of tourism, economic growth and employment in NSW.
“Short-term rentals are not the problem nor are they the solution,” he said.
“It is highly likely that the advice of the Independent Planning Commission will lead to significant damage to the local economy and do little to address the affordability and accessibility challenge.
“This is not a no regrets experiment and certainly not one that should be embarked upon with such little data and evidence sitting behind it.”
The cap would make Byron one of the most harshly restricted areas in the country when it comes to short-term rentals, according to Airbnb head of public policy for Australia and New Zealand Michael Crosby.
“Airbnb and our Byron Shire host community were surprised and disappointed with the recommendation to introduce one of the harshest restrictions on short-term rental accommodation in Australia,” Mr Crosby stated on Friday.
He said the cap could end up hurting Byron, its small businesses and local employment.
The final decision on the cap will be made by the Labor government and newly sworn in NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully.
Mr Scully said in a previous statement that his office was reviewing advice provided by the commission.
“We recognise maintaining the function and character of places people live is important, while maintaining the appeal for visitors,” he said.
“I will consider the findings in this context.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Stayz, Airbnb hit back after IPC‘s advice on proposed 60-day short-term rental cap in Byron Shire
Witnesses unable to revive man swept from rocks
A man has been swept off rocks and drowned on the Coffs Coast today, despite the efforts of witnesses and first responders. Here’s what we know.
Boy suffering medical episode ditched after fiery chase: police
Police allege a trio of young offenders fled a burning car after a Mid-North Coast break-in and pursuit, leaving behind a 14-year-old suffering from a medical episode. Here’s what we know.