‘It’s shocking’: Landlords urged to rethink bid for six short stay permits

A North Hobart landlord has been urged to rethink her applications for six short stay accommodation permits, but she says there are reasons she’s considering converting them. DETAILS >>

Kim Woodcock owner of the property in the kitchen of the house. Rental property in Hobart was been left with huge amounts of rubbish after the tenant vacated in August. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A NORTH Hobart landlord who wants to convert a row of six terrace homes to short-stay accommodation is being urged to reconsider her application, with a Hobart councillor worried about the impact on the city’s tight rental market.

Kim Woodcock, who spoke to the Mercury in August last year when a tenant left her property a pigsty, has applied for permits for the six homes on Smith St. She argues one of the reasons she needs the business venture is because a horror tenant trashed one of her properties.

The application has attracted the attention of Hobart City Council Mike Dutta, who is chair of the council’s housing and homelessness committee.

Mr Dutta said, in his opinion, the applications were worrying.

“It is shocking and it is really concerning and disappointing that one owner is able to convert six terraces into Airbnbs,” Mr Dutta said.

“That’s substantial stock coming out of the rental market … there will be implications that go with it.”

Independent candidate for Clark Mike Dutta in relation to his stance on pokies and political donations. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Dutta appealed to the applicant to keep in mind Hobart’s housing crisis.

“I would urge the owner to withdraw the application for the good of the community,” he said.

Mr Dutta said the council’s hands were often tied when it came to rejecting short-stay accommodation applications.

“I call upon the minister to change the rules that we can use to make decisions with regard to refusing applications,” he said.

Ms Woodcock said she had not decided whether all six would eventually be converted.

“It’s just an option … if I get the licence I have two years before I have to act on it,” she said.

“One property is ready to go, the others I’m either working on or have tenants, the ones that have tenants will be closer to the two years, they won’t be evicted in the near future.

“I’ve taken the risk and made this investment and some risks have worked out, some haven’t.

“If somebody wanted to dictate what interest rate you could get on your bank account, I’m sure you wouldn’t be very happy about it.”

Kim Woodcock owner of the property at the entrance to the house. Rental property in Hobart was left with huge amounts of rubbish after the tenant vacated in August. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Woodcock said one of the reasons she was applying for permits was to recoup funds lost when her house was left trashed by a tenant.

“The assessor valued the damage at about $34,000 … the insurance company knocked back the claims, saying it wasn’t malicious damage,” she said.

She also said it was expensive to maintain heritage properties.

“These properties are heritage listed and with the 300 per cent increase in land tax and everything else going on I cannot afford the maintenance and repairs needed to protect them,” she said.

Ms Woodcock said since her application went live on the council’s planning website she’d already received backlash.

“People have been around hassling my tenants about it, giving them misinformation,” Ms Woodcock said.

“They both contacted me yesterday and they were very stressed at being approached about this.”

The applications are open for public comment until April 4.