Victims Of Holiday Letting (VOHL) have been working diligently on an acceptable holiday letting strategy for Byron shire which protects your residential amenity.
VOHL is concerned that the regulation requiring the owner/manager to attend a holiday let, in person, to respond to a complaint, as in the original proposed holiday letting strategy, has been dropped.
The owner/manager knows the holiday let and would have met the occupants. He/she can assess, resolve problems on the spot and make immediate decisions such as termination of occupancy. This original regulation should be restored to help protect residential amenity.
Instead, a security service provided by the holiday lets lobby may attend. Many VOHL members and other residents will not use this service, finding it ineffective and inefficient.
VOHL believes that the security service as provided currently does not give the community the confidence that would be provided by owners/managers attending in person.
Currently, the security service does not adequately investigate the complaint. The upshot of this is that neighbours are then accused by owners of making vexatious complaints due to flawed investigation.
The standard set for offensive noise by the holiday lets lobby does not correspond to community standards for residential areas and the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.
Offensive noise that disturbs sleep or forces neighbours inside their house should be dealt with by owners/managers. Residents are entitled to peace and quiet in their homes.
Not only are neighbours subjected to out of control unregulated illegal holiday letting but insulted by being labelled as vexatious complainants.
This conflicts with the Holiday Rental Code of Conduct regulation: ‘managers should act with integrity, professionalism, courtesy and consideration when dealing with neighbours’.
Neighbours shouldn’t be intimidated or subject to retribution if they lodge a complaint.
Please be aware that the strategy needs to be strengthened to protect your residential amenity and that you will be impacted if it remains unchanged.
Doug Luke, coordinator, VOHL
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