No restrictions on mum-and-dad Airbnb operators under new plan proposed by Tasmanian Opposition

NO restrictions would be placed on Tasmanians who use their homes for Airbnb under a new plan put forward by the State Opposition.

Labor’s planning spokeswoman Madeleine Ogilvie says the Opposition has come up with a workable policy on Airbnb that helps fill the void.

NO restrictions would be placed on Tasmanians who use their homes for Airbnb under a new plan put forward by the state Opposition.

Launching its new policy position today, Labor says it would involve changing the planning scheme to show that providing short-term accommodation in primary places of residence did not constitute a change of use.

Labelling the State Government’s position on Airbnb as confusing and inconsistent, Opposition planning spokeswoman Madeleine Ogilvie said all governments needed to adapt to the rapid rise of the sharing economy.

An estimated 140,000 visitors used Tasmanian Airbnb properties in 2016, she said.

More than 120 Tasmanian Airbnb hosts held a public protest late last year against proposed new planning laws to place a 42-day cap on the non-permit period for listings, with Planning Minister Peter Gutwein expected to announce an overhaul of the laws next month.

MORE: HOSTS RALLY AGAINST AIRBNB CAP PLAN

Tourism and hospitality chiefs last week backed away from moves to force mum-and-dad providers to pay for operating permits and called for those who operated Airbnb as a business to apply for the same permits as other accommodation provider businesses.

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Ms Ogilvie said Labor’s policy went further by giving choice to consumers, certainty to traditional tourism operators and short-stay providers, and minimising red tape.

Labor would require property owners acting as short-term accommodation providers to meet minimum standards by registering with local councils under a streamlined process, she said.

It would also would introduce legislation to crack down on disruptive and anti-social behaviour and extra powers would be given to the Residential Tenancy Commissioner to investigate complaints, including the power to revoke approval for short-term accommodation in response to complaints.

Ms Ogilvie said Labor’s minimum standards process was designed not to introduce high costs for compliance but to ensure they were met, along with fire protections and appropriate insurance.

“Labor believes that placing restrictions on the number of days properties could be let in the short-term accommodation market would be expensive and practically impossible,” she said.

“This is solid, sensible, workable policy that fills that void.”

Originally published as No restrictions on mum-and-dad Airbnb operators under new plan proposed by Tasmanian Opposition