A Mollymook home owner says the NSW Government should only limit the number of nights hosts can let their properties if the current rules were detrimental to the region.
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Under the NSW Government’s short-term holiday letting plan, hosts based in the greater Sydney area will only be allowed to rent out their homes for up to 180 nights a year.
There will be no automatic cap in regional areas, but councils can choose to impose their own limits.
Pattianne Gay owns one property in Mollymook listed on short-term rental website HomeAway (previously known as Stayz).
Ms Gay said she could not see how the current rules of short-term holiday rentals were detrimental stakeholders in the southern Shoalhaven.
“The thing about it is there’s so many varieties of accommodation, from budget to high-end. I think that’s fantastic because it actually offers more options to a wider range of people who are able to come visit,” Ms Gay said.
“People are really wanting to choose this sort of accommodation. I think it offers convenience in terms of self catering.
“A lot of my bookings are based around someone’s special birthday or an anniversary where two or three generations are coming together to spend a special weekend or time together. That would be harder for them to do that in the traditional sort of accommodation that’s available.”
Ms Gay also attributed a rise in linen services in the area to the short-term rental industry and predicted changes would have a wide-range impact.
“I employ a cleaner on a regular basis along with a window cleaner and gardener. Other spends are the linen cleaning and ironing, purchasing local products for a welcome hamper. Updating the decor using local stores and artists,” she said.
“You can see how restricting days owners can rent would impact the money that is being spent in the region and the flow on effect on jobs and services,” she said.
HomeAway director of corporate affairs Eacham Curry said the company wanted to partner with Shoalhaven City Council to ensure the region’s short-term rentals remained “an integral part” of accommodation mix.
He said restrictions would “unnecessarily diminish the benefit derived from the tourism sector” and send tourists to other parts of NSW.
