A Suffolk Park property owner has been issued two $6,000 fines for unauthorised holiday letting, say Council staff.
In a media release last week, they say, ‘After investigations into a property on Beachside Drive at Suffolk Park, Council staff issued the fines for exceeding the 180-day limit for holiday letting’.
Ralph James, Council’s outgoing Legal Counsel, said that evidence was collected over many months.
The $12,000 were for alleged breaches over 2022 and 2023, Council staff said.
When asked what legislation was cited for the offence, staff replied, ‘Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 – development without consent’.
The Echo also asked, ‘What evidence are Council relying on for the fine, for example, records from Airbnb or another accom platform?’
They replied, ‘Until the fines are paid, or rights to appeal are finalised, Council cannot comment’.
Mayor Michael Lyon said in the media release, ‘Council will be pursuing the payment of these fines, and I hope it serves as a warning to other property owners, that we are taking the regulation of rules surrounding short-term rental accommodation extremely seriously, particularly ahead of the introduction of the new 60-day cap that will apply from September’.
Online accommodation platform Stayz were asked for comment by The Echo but ‘decided to not comment on the story at this moment’.
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