Hobart City Council asks State Government to seek access to Airbnb data for auditing purposes
A HOBART alderman there is a discrepancy between the number of planning permits being issued for short-term accommodation and the significant increase of properties on sharing sites.
Tasmania
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HOBART City Council will write to the State Government to request access to Airbnb data for an accurate compliance audit of the number of properties used for short-stay accommodation.
The written request will be made after Alderman Phillip Cocker raised an issue regarding the discrepancy between the number of planning permits being issued for short-term accommodation within Hobart and the significant increase of properties listed on sharing sites such as Airbnb and Stayz.
Ald Cocker said the best information the council could currently use came from the Inside Airbnb website, which said more than 800 properties were listed in Hobart.
“Only a small proportion of those come to the council for approval,” he said. “I don’t think the council has the capacity to ensure compliance.
“Compliance is difficult to achieve if you don’t have all the listed properties in your area.”
Council director of city planning Neil Noye responded to Ald Cocker’s request, saying it was “understood that the State Government has entered into agreement with Airbnb to share data from their site”.
Mr Noye proposed to write to the Government to gain access to the data.
In June, the State Government announced it would tighten regulations around short-stay visitor accommodation in Battery Point and Wapping after a recommendation from the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
Ald Cocker described the current state of short-term accommodation processes as an “unholy mess”.
He urged the State Government to rethink its legislation and give the authority to regulate short-stay properties back to local governments.
“I think the State Government needs to have discussions with local government and let councils manage the issue through a proper planning process,” Ald Cocker said.
In April, Hobart deputy lord mayor Peter Sexton suggested residents dob in suspected unlicensed Airbnb properties in their area.
Ald Sexton’s suggestion aimed to curb the spike in unregulated short-term accommodation in the city.
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