Doug Luke, Coordinator, VOHL
Fair Trading Minister Matt Kean in his introduction speech to the Fair Trading Amendment (Short Term Rental Accommodation) Bill, 2018, stated ‘If the investigation of a complaint regarding a host or guest finds that they have committed a serious breach of the Code more than once over a two year period, the guest or host will be listed on the register’ (Hansard 6 June, 2018).
Based on his statement, VOHL (Victims Of Holiday Letting) has major concerns that a still undeveloped Code of Conduct will not protect the residential amenity of neighbours of holiday lets.
Kean’s statement appears to indicate that if the occupants of a holiday let make a disturbance such as offensive noise, then only a penalty (‘strike’) will be applied to the guest and not the host who is the owner/manager. Therefore, the owner/manager is not taking any responsibility for a failure in their vetting and management.
Online platforms and hosts are only provided with the name and address of the principal guest who gives credit card details. If this guest is listed on the register, they can easily circumvent any imposed restriction by getting another relative or friend to make future bookings. Invited friends are often a further cause of residential amenity damage.
VOHL has always stated that owners must be held responsible in this Code to solve any problems that arise where residential amenity is disrupted. Hosts allow guests into their holiday let for commercial gain and should take responsibility for problems that arise. In hotel, motel and B&B accommodation management and/or security are onsite to immediately resolve any disturbance.
Our permanent residents must be protected.
