Regulations around Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) came into effect for Byron Shire on September 23, with most of the shire now capped at 60 days for un-hosted holiday lets. Two precincts in Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads have no cap restrictions.
According to Council’s website, ‘There will be a 12-month transition period for the community and industry to prepare. The changes do not affect hosted STRA. This is where the host, who can be the owner, tenant, or permanent resident, resides on the premises during the short-term stay’.
Byron Shire is the first local government area (LGA) in NSW to have legally enforceable regulations around holiday letting beyond the NSW caps.
Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith (Greens), said, ‘At peak times we have seen thousands of whole homes on holiday sites, while permanent residents have had no rentals available.
‘This cap should see the transfer of some of those properties to the long-term rental market and cannot kick in soon enough.’
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‘Let’s be clear – the big corps will want this unique trial for our community to fail, so we are working closely with the community to amplify the good news stories that we expect to emerge from this power our community now has.
‘As a community, we have faced fires and floods with incredible resilience and there is palpable relief to have what I hope will be an effective piece of the puzzle towards alleviating the housing crisis in Byron Shire.
‘Of course, we know that rents in Byron Shire will be high, but supply over the long term will make a difference to both cost and availability
‘NSW is in a rental crisis, and it is my hope that Byron Shire will lead by example in the re-establishment of community amenity and the prioritisation of homes for permanent residents.
‘I will be closely monitoring the cap and the actions of the STRA companies, it is important to see what works and what doesn’t as we move forward.
‘I believe our model can then set the path towards all communities in NSW having the power to reign in STRA when the balance tips too far towards property investors and big corporations, away from residential amenity and housing availability for permanent residents in communities,’ Ms Smith said.
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