Schoolies being banned from party hot spots accommodation

Scores of accommodation providers have updated their policies to ban schoolies bookings as festivities get set to kick off in Victoria.

Holiday homeowners are banning schoolies from booking their properties and are hitting them with hefty bonds ahead of record numbers expected in prime party locations.

School leavers set to descend on the Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island and the Surf Coast are being asked to front up to $2500 for bonds and guarantees they will not make excessive noise in residential areas.

Higher bonds are also required for properties in other hot spots such as the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.

Scores of accommodation providers on popular booking sites, including booking.com and Airbnb, have updated their policies to outright ban schoolies bookings before Victoria’s festivities begin next weekend.

One property manager who oversees more than 100 homes across the Mornington Peninsula has even barred any groups under the age of 25 from booking any rentals over summer.

The manager, who wished not to be named, said the hard-line approache protected owners from risking hefty council fines and being banned from operating in future.

School leavers Tallulah Dawson, Andie Grant, Sascha Rowe, Ruby McLoughney and Ashley Vinci, all 18, are ready to party at Byron Bay. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Our council is extremely strict and has specific regulations for short-stay accommodation, which carry penalty points and fines,” he said.

“The hosts and homeowners are responsible for ensuring compliance so when there are issues, it’s them who receive the penalty fines and not the guest.

“They then risk being shut down entirely as a short-stay rental.”

Another rental property owner in Phillip Island, whose home sits on an all-residential street, said “absolutely no schoolies bookings” would be accepted in the coming weeks.

While she said the rule was a preventive measure and that most school leavers were well-behaved while they stayed in the area, it was not worth the risk of accepting a booking from potentially “wild teens”.

“We all remember what it was like to be young and to just want to celebrate and party, but kids do sometimes need to remember that they have to take a bit more responsibility,” she said.

“Declining a booking means we might not be making as much money, but we also have neighbours to think about.”

Just under 10,000 school leavers are set to celebrate schoolies on the Mornington Peninsula this year, while another 3000 are expected on the Bass and Surf Coasts in towns such as Phillip Island, Cowes and Torquay.

Mornington Peninsula shire community activation manager Natasha Petkovic-Jeremic said security would be brought in to monitor “problem” short-stay rentals known to be disruptive to nearby residents.

Rental property owners in the area can also be slapped with fines of up to $3700 if neighbours complained about their guests.

Accommodation sites estimate that up to 85 per cent of rentals have been booked out ahead of the bumper schoolies season. Picture: Josie Hayden

“Residents can contact security at any time of the day or night if there is disruptive behaviour coming from that property,” Ms Petkovic-Jeremic said.

“The proactive and reactive patrols work as a deterrent to limit disruptions to our residents.

“Owners can also be fined if their guests use outdoor areas of the property between 11pm and 7am.”

It comes after teens caused one Rye Airbnb owner up to $40,000 in damage last year.

Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan encouraged schoolies to be respectful of permanent residents.

“Council wants school leavers to stay safe, make good choices and enjoy the beauty that is

Phillip Island. This includes being respectful of the locals and their spaces, remembering that families use the same areas during the day that school leavers use at night time,” he said.

Accommodation sites estimate that up to 85 per cent of rentals have been booked out ahead of the bumper schoolies season despite higher bonds and teens being banned from properties.

Other properties have taken a more inclusive approach to schoolies bookings, allowing them to rent accommodation in exchange for higher bonds to cover potential fines and damage.

Homes for Holidays property manager Melanie Scott-Smith said homeowners charge schoolies a $2500 bond and require guests to complete an intensive induction on arrival to keep them safe during their stay on the Mornington Peninsula.

“We thought it was best to have an inclusive support system to stop potential incidents from blowing out of proportion,” she said.

“Younger groups need to take a bit more responsibility and show a bit more respect, but we run them through emergency contacts and stress to them that they won’t get in trouble if they need help and have to call us.”

Sacha Rowe, 18, is spending schoolies in Byron Bay with eight other friends after finishing year 12 at Star of the Sea College in Gardenvale.

She said the group was excited to celebrate the end of exams, but it was important for students to be respectful during their time away.

“There’s always a few students who do the wrong thing and give all Schoolies a bad rap. Most kids are there to celebrate and have fun, not look for trouble,” she said.

“We always make sure we look out for our friends, respect other people, and we expect the same respect back.”