We Live Here - Our Newsletters , 2023We Live Here - Our Newsletters , 2023https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/2023Tue, 04 Mar 2025 20:35:44 -0800http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[2023.12 From housing crisis to hope?]]>https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/post/202312

Now that Victoria has both a new Premier and a new Minister for Consumer Affairs, can we dare to hope or dream there will be some meaningful changes during the first term of this new government?

When the previous premier, Daniel Andrews took office in December, 2014, the focus was on boosting tourism; the rights and liveability of residents were ignored.

The rise of short-stay accommodation over the past eight years has reduced the availability of long-term rental properties, particularly in sought-after urban and tourist-centric regions.

A short-stay property levy of 7.5% announced in the Victorian Government’s Housing Statement and released just days before Mr Andrews resigned, is scheduled to come into effect only in January 2025!

The micro-levy is so small that it will do nothing to address the housing crisis. The Housing Statement states explicitly that the short-stay levy is purely a fund-raising device without any aspirations whatsoever for behavioural change. Collecting only $70 million per year, it will take decades for the program to deliver any meaningful volume of housing stock.

Let’s learn from a decade of global experience. For example. New York has provided a model for managing the short-stay industry to balance competing interests. Like most major tourist destinations, New York’s regulations include mandatory registration of short-stay operators.

We Live Here looks forward to dialog with the incoming Minister for Consumer Affairs, Ms Gabrielle Williams, about these issues and the plethora of established solutions.

The 2024 agenda

We want the government to review the legislative framework – with full community consultation here in Victoria. (Anyone could be forgiven for thinking that the current legislation was drafted over a couple of caramel macchiatos at the Airbnb headquarters in San Francisco.)

Two Acts affecting owners corporations need urgent attention: 

The Owners Corporation (Short Stay Accommodation) Act 2018 

The government promised a review by February 2021 – that promise was broken. About 50 cases have been to VCAT, costing OCs thousands in legal fees, without a single case being successful. The threshold is just far too high. Currently this worthless Bill is incorporated into the main Owners Corporations Act.

Owners Corporations and Other Acts Amendment Act 2021

This patchwork act incorporates the unreviewed Short Stay Accommodation Act 2018  and the amendments to the OC Act dated 1 December 2021.  It’s a hot mess.

The legislation is past its use-by date and even the state government has promised to repeal the Act “between 2023 and 2027”. At the going ratio of promises to action, that could mean sometime after 2035.

Short-stay accommodation was excluded from a 2018 review of the Owners Corporation Act because of planning issues. This time, everything needs to be examined. 

There must be a level playing field. Let’s hope that with a new team at the helm some action will at last be taken so that Melbourne will not be known the world over as having the weakest short stay regulations. 

Get Started Now
]]>Fri, 01 Dec 2023 13:39:00 +1100<![CDATA[2023.11 Greens pressure on short-stay levy]]>https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/post/202311

The Victorian Greens have written to the Treasurer Tim Pallis saying they will oppose Victoria’s proposed short-stay levy unless they get substantial changes to the state government’s new housing policy.

We Live Here regards the proposed levy – which could be as little as $10 on some properties – is a negligible nano measure that is openly revenue-focused rather than regulatory.

The Greens are seeking rent controls, regulation of the short-stay industry including 90-day caps, and other social housing policy changes. The party has given the government three months to “negotiate in good faith” to avoid the housing bill failing.

The government’s Housing Statement says 29,000 entire homes are listed on short-stay platforms. The government’s statement explains why they want a levy:

“These are places that cannot be used for longer-term accommodation or rented out on fixed term agreements – so it makes sense that they should provide some benefit toward the places that can.”

Yes, there it is, documented in the government’s own words – the short-stay levy is a cash cow.

The government needs those 29,000 houses to remain on Airbnb or Stayz.

Imagine for a moment that a small short-stay levy could influence a significant number of landlords to convert back to long-term rentals, which is risibly unlikely - the whole funding model for Homes Victoria would collapse.

Financially, one must admit the idea behind the levy is brilliant – a cash bonanza from a tiny little levy that everyone will forget about eventually. Simultaneously, without any other action to solve the short-stay chaos - it is politically inexcusable.

We Live Here hopes the Green’s pressure on the government will get results.

New leadership must mend the legacy

After eight years of inaction under Mr Andrews, Victorians have a new leader. Can we expect any legislative change?

The never-reviewed, never-amended “short-stay Bill” was embedded in the OC Act despite enormous community opposition. Residents’ complaints have been assiduously ignored for nearly a decade.

The short-stay party Bill was either a case of “drafted to fail” or “failed in the drafting” - in other words, insidious or incompetent.

Under Jacinta Allan’s leadership the government has an opportunity to make some real change. Now is the time for the state government to redress the harm caused by political inertia of the past few years.

For example, a St Kilda resident recently lost their VCAT case against continual drunken abusive incidents at short-stays. With the disgraceful behaviour alternating between apartments, it is virtually impossible to take successful action against a single lot.

Premier, let’s learn from other places like New York – Victoria can do better.

Just for a start, we need day caps and self-determination for owners corporations. And whatever is enacted, regulations must be fair, realistic and enforceable.

We Live Here looks forward to meeting with the new Premier and having meaningful dialogue – and outcomes.

Get Started Now
]]>Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:38:00 +1100<![CDATA[2023.10 Cash without the cure]]>https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/post/2023101

Victoria’s proposed tax on short stays will generate cash for the state government while ignoring internationally recognised solutions to tackle problems with the industry.

Major cities and jurisdictions including London, Paris, Barcelona and even New South Wales, are all trying to regulate the behemoth industry that is having a devastating effect on housing affordability.

This month New York strengthened its laws to rein in the out-of-control short-stay industry. Under the new rules, rentals less than 30 days are only allowed if the operators are registered with the city. Operators must sign a commitment to being physically present throughout the rental, sharing the home with their guests. Plus, there is a limit of two guests per booking.

Valuable lessons from cities like New York are being disregarded in Victoria, and Melbourne will continue to suffer.

The proposed Victorian tax on short-term rentals will be factored into the accommodation price and the guests will pick up the tab.  Short-stay operators already enjoy the loophole that allows the entire industry to avoid paying virtually any GST, and this new state tax only partly impacts that advantage.

If this tax is the only regulatory policy to be implemented at the state level, short-stay issues will continue unabated. The tax appears to legitimise the industry while leaving it unregulated. The government has missed the opportunity to gather intelligence on operators because the tax will be collected from the platforms like Airbnb, while operators will remain uncounted and unknown, carrying on regardless.

The only beneficiaries of the new tax will be Airbnb and other short-stay platforms; because the policy gives the impression that something is being done. Together, state government and the major short-stay platforms now have a policy outcome that will continue to ensure that Victoria is one of the most heavily saturated short-stay markets in the world.

Where did the short-stay tax idea originate? We know rising interest rates have been eroding the state’s stamp duty bonanza, and the games cancellation costs will be excruciating. Perhaps the state government just needed what the largest platform claims to offer hosts - “an extra bit of income” on the side?

We Live Here has just started liaising again with the government after a two-year hiatus. It is indeed disappointing that the issues we have been raising seem to have been discounted.

Eight years and we’re still waiting

After eight years of inaction the government has announced a policy that will only generate income for the state coffers, without solving systemic short-stay problems.

What else has the government done since 2015? It made one dismal attempt to look like it was taking action on short-stay parties, with a Bill that has had zero effect and, the last time we checked, zero tribunal orders in favour of residents.

Our policy is waiting to be heard and acted upon:

· A statewide registration system for sort-stay operators.

· Allow owners corporations to make rules on short stays.

· An annual day cap.

· Realistic and enforceable penalties.

All these basic requirements are being brushed aside while the government merely imposes a tax that might help balance its books. 

Get Started Now
]]>Sun, 01 Oct 2023 13:38:00 +1100<![CDATA[2023.09 Short stays out of control]]>https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/post/2023091

The woeful inadequacy of the state’s short-stay legislation remains in the spotlight, with heightened tension in municipalities throughout the state.

City and rural councils are being faced with mounting resident complaints of noise, parties, nudity, assault and property damage.

The intensity is increasing as party-lovers emerge from their pandemic-induced hibernation, as if making up for lost time. And with zero consequences, the behaviour is worsening.

The short-stay industry is a huge commercial business for many operators. Data collected by insideairbnb.com shows that 50 operators control 543 listings in Port Phillip. These 50 businesses are each managing up to $20 million in property assets. All up, there is potentially a monumental $1 billion in short-stay assets in Port Phillip – a big business by any measure.

The fallout from the continual social disruption has led to a groundswell of support and media coverage for a local residents’ advocate in the city. The advocate has shocking evidence of short stay visitors assaulting residents with threatening language, including homophobic slurs, in common areas.

The short-stay chaos in Victoria is an abject disgrace and must be stopped.

Short-stay metastasis – statewide

Short-stay impacts are being felt the breadth of the state - Warrnambool, Bass Coast, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Port Phillp (St Kilda). The alpine town of Bright is beleaguered by almost as many short-stay properties as the NSW tourist hotspot, Byron Bay.

These councils have taken direct action or expressed their frustration with the lack of action by the state government.

As the third tier of government, councils are reluctantly stepping into the breach and enacting fundamental reforms to stem the contagion.

With an election on the horizon, now is the time for the state Labor Party to formulate its policy in response to the shocking housing crisis. If the policies continue to be ineffective, the party risks losing ground across the state.

Industry welcomes micro-tax

For multinational corporations domiciled in putative tax havens, a new tax is fine and dandy - if somebody else pays it.  

The state government’s proposed $5 micro-tax on short-stay guests has elicited fawning praise from industry leaders. Revealingly, other operators in the short-stay industry are bemoaning the token 1 or 2% that this proposed tax represents.

At least we are hopeful, now that we see the first timid moves from the state government indicating that they may be aware of rising community anger.

What’s next?

The Victorian community has been suffering eight years of government inertia. In 2015 the government promised to address only the party issue and even for that modest aspiration it has failed dismally. The so-called “Airbnb party” Act has proven ineffective. Of the 50 cases brought before VCAT, none have been successful. The problem has persisted and indeed worsened.

Victoria needs a statewide registration system.
Victoria needs the government to allow Owners Corporations to make rules on shorts stays.
Victoria needs the government to implement an annual day cap.
Victoria needs realistic and enforceable penalties.

Stop procrastinating. All these basic requirements are needed NOW. 

Get Started Now
]]>Fri, 01 Sep 2023 13:37:00 +1000<![CDATA[2023.08 Renaissance of reason]]>https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/post/2023081

The We Live Here Forum on Housing Affordability and Short-Term Rentals showed that there are solutions to the crisis, and that people with different perspectives can work together to achieve results.

Solicitor Tom Bacon from Strata Title Lawyers moderated a lively community discussion with MPs Ellen Sandell, and Gabrielle De Vietri, Edward Crossland, Yarra Deputy Mayor, and resident activists from St Kilda and Yarra Valley. Backed by publicly available data, the nexus between short-stays and the housing crisis was proven.

MLCs Sheena Watt and Evan Mullholland were unable to attend, as were all Melbourne City Councillors. [“We Live Here” has accepted an invitation to meet with Evan Mulholland, and we will resume our regular meetings with the Consumer Affairs office, now part of the Government Services cluster.]

The panellists put forward constructive action plans, and with current complexion of the state parliament upper house, we feel the future is positive.

Our Yarra Valley resident activist also showed how statistical information can be used to support genuine solutions to the housing crisis.

Our resident activist from St Kilda reported on milestone achievements this year: the Municipal Association of Victoria adopted a policy of regulating short stays, and the Association will advocate the government for uniform change across the state. At least four councils have already introduced self-funding registration schemes.

The resident’s analysis also showed that of 50 “short-stay” cases brought before VCAT by aggrieved residents, none had orders issued against the short-stay operator.

Tom Bacon offered explanations: either the short-stay legislation was incompetently drafted, or it was designed to fail.

Let’s fix this – fast. Registration of short-term rentals can deliver immediate results. If your MP is unaware of the issue, please write to them. Write to your city councillors too.


Cladding chaos continues – for some

Some apartment owners are still in limbo, with flammable cladding deemed not dangerous enough for state government support, and too dangerous for the council, banks and insurers.

Owners in some major buildings are facing financial devastation, unable to sell their apartments because of an outstanding building order to remove flammable cladding, and rejected by lenders.

Flammable cladding was installed in thousands of buildings, with governments around the world blithely allowing the practice under the principle of “self-regulation”.

The Victorian state government is as guilty as others. This disaster was allowed to occur, and our government assumed limited responsibility. The emergency fund set up under Cladding Safety Victoria (CSV) had a headline budget of $600 million, except the fine print revealed that around half was for government buildings, leaving about $300 million for private buildings.

With over 1000 Victorian apartment buildings affected, that was less than $300,000 each. With costs between $1 million and $10 million, and often much more expensive, it was clear that most buildings would miss out. The budget was just too small. The government decided to fund only “high risk” buildings – with the definition of “high risk” being inscrutably secret.

The CSV money pot must be empty by now and we still have buildings suffering in cladding purgatory.

Get Started Now
]]>Tue, 01 Aug 2023 13:37:00 +1000<![CDATA[2023.07 Quiz the politicians]]>https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/post/2023071

Open Forum on Affordable Housing and Short-term Rentals

You are invited to a “We Live Here” Forum, the first after a long, pandemic-induced hiatus.

The housing crisis has been capturing headlines for some time now and this forum will be an opportunity for the community to get some answers from our pollies.

Come along to Library at The Dock, 107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands 3008. Everyone is invited to arrive by 6:45pm for a 7pm start.

“We Live Here” has invited state and local leaders from across the political spectrum, as well as resident activists:

· Ellen Sandell, Greens MLA for Melbourne,

· Gabrielle De Vietri, Greens MLA for Richmond

· Sheena Watt, Labour Party MLC for Northern Metropolitan region

· Evan Mulholland Liberal Party MLC for Northern Metropolitan region

· Rohan Leppert, Melbourne City Councillor

· Moderator:Tom Bacon, Strata Title Lawyers

To check who has accepted our invitation, visit our website welivehere.net or Facebook page.

The past few months have seen some major developments regarding the housing crisis:


1. Worried Labor MPs leak policy ideas

Some coy Labor MPs are privately considering capping the number of nights operators can let properties as short stays, imposing a ‘tourist tax’, or empowering councils to levy higher commercial rates on short-stay properties. The MPs are challenging Labor policy for fear of disaffecting youth voters, among the hardest hit by the housing crisis.


2. Greens policy announcement and Bill

The Greens made major policy statement and on 30 May, introduced the Owners Corporations Amendment (Short-stay Accommodation) Bill 2023, aiming to:

· put a cap on the number of days that a dwelling can be used for short stays;

· give owners corporations power to regulate short stay rentals;

· establish a mandatory register of short-stay properties.

The Bill was defeated 53-32 after an extraordinary debate with continual Labor interjections that exposed the government’s frustratingly inertial stance.


3. Liberal support for reforms

Liberal MPs including John Pesutto, Leader of the State Opposition and Matthew Guy voted in favour of the Greens’ Bill to introduce basic reforms.


4. Industry bodies speak out

Victorian Tourism Industry Council and Accommodation Association has been lobbying the government about its concerns around the housing shortage.

5. City councils act

Yarra City Council in Melbourne is considering a tax on short-term rentals such as Airbnb. Bass Coast, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula councils and most recently Warrnambool Council have implemented registration systems, with annual fees. Yarra Ranges Council lobbied the state government on short stays. Port Phillip Council is investigating means of regulating the short-stay industry. The Municipal Association of Victoria has adopted a policy of regulating short stays after a vote of 80-20 in favour at its recent state council.


6. Rental and housing enquiry

The Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee announced an inquiry into rental and housing affordability. Trung Luu (Committee Chair) emailed “We Live Here” last month with the details of the enquiry. The committee has 12 members: three Labor, five Liberal, two from Legalise Cannabis and one each from the Greens and the Nationals. Check the “We Live Here” Facebook page for more details. 

Get Started Now
]]>Sat, 01 Jul 2023 13:36:00 +1000<![CDATA[23.06 Suburban councils take the lead]]>https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/post/2023061

Melbourne City Council is falling behind suburban councils in the race to prevent the city being overrun by short stays.

Port Phillip is the most recent council to show that it hears residents’ fears about short stays. The CEO has been instructed to prepare a report on how other councils manage ; with details on how they could be regulated.

This directive was the result of a community petition demanding that the Council take action to develop and enforce rules on short stay operations in Port Phillip. The investigative report must be presented to council next month.

Many councils have now introduced basic regulations. Bass Coast, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula and most recently Warrnambool have implemented registration systems for short stay hosts, charging an annual fee. Yarra Ranges Council lobbied the state government to take responsibility for regulating short stays.

The outer suburbs appear to be more advanced on this issue. If the current momentum continues, bayside Port Philip may become the first inner city council to step up and regulate short stays.

Outside the municipal sphere, the Victorian Tourism Industry Council and Accommodation Association has been lobbying the government about its concerns around the housing shortage for local workers.

These concerns are backed up by economic data. In a lecture at the University of Melbourne, Professor Greg Clark, an urban expert based in the UK, argued that every successful city in the world is experiencing a housing shortage. Professor Clark, who reportedly has advised more than 300 cities and 50 national governments, said the housing crisis is particularly acute in Australia in comparison with global benchmarks. 
In response to the expanding controversy, a Victorian Government representative issued an embarrassing prevarication:

“We have introduced laws to limit disruption caused by unruly short-stay guests in apartments, and continue to monitor the wider impacts of the sector.”

Victoria’s short stay laws are among the feeblest implemented by any jurisdiction anywhere. A review of VCAT cases by one of our intrepid correspondents has revealed that there have been 50 cases against short stay hosts to date – and not one host has been penalised!

Meanwhile, many residential apartment blocks in Melbourne have been turned into hotels with up to half the apartments in some buildings converted to short stays.

It’s hard to take this non-communicative government seriously when all they offer is to “monitor” the impacts, and then continually postpone a review first promised for 2021, now claiming it will be held “by 2027”.

Also, when will Melbourne City Council follow the lead of suburban councils and register short-stays? We were asking for this years ago.

Campaign donations

As a not-for-profit organisation, donations from individuals and buildings keep our campaigns going. To register as a supporter of "We Live Here" or make a donation, please visit welivehere.net. "We Live Here" does not accept donations from commercial tourism interests. 

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]]>Thu, 01 Jun 2023 13:35:00 +1000<![CDATA[23.05 Built to rent and ruin]]>https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/post/2023051

An inner-city apartment resident has written to We Live Here with a horror story of dealing with “visiting drunks lacking self-awareness” in a neighbouring property.


The story has its genesis in a decade-old example of bipartisan government ineptitude, as our correspondent writes:

“Our neighbour is the gargantuan 175-unit “EVO Apartments” that was built under an ill-star. Before the block was occupied, it was compulsorily acquired by the State Government in 2014 to make way for the aborted East-West Link. After nearly a decade in limbo, the building was sold by the government as a build-to-rent investment to a funds management group - at a 30% loss.”


“The worst aspect is the short-stay factor. We face constant parties with late night revellers drinking and screaming in their communal swimming pool with loud music, or emerging onto balconies after returning from nightclubs at 2 or 3 am and bellowing into the night. In the absence of long-term residents, there is no self-policing of this property.”


This resident’s story should be a warning to the government about the regulations so desperately needed to manage the “built-to-rent” trend.


We Live Here has been trying to engage with the government and opposition parties to address the lack of affordable housing, whilst short-term letting goes unchecked. We have tried for more than six years to get the Victorian government to take positive action; it is an embarrassment that for platforms like Airbnb, Melbourne is the most penetrated market in the world.


Will Melbourne City Council step up?

Pre-covid, former councillor Dr Jackie Watts proposed a motion to Melbourne City Council to classify short term accommodation as a change of use requiring a planning permit. The motion failed to gain adequate backing. Can we expect more support from Council now?


We Live Here is tempted to be sanguine because deputy lord mayor of Melbourne, Cr Reece is well known for supporting homeless people and this month wrote an opinion piece bemoaning that “rents are soaring due to a lack of supply in the private market”; Cr Leppert’s Greens party recently made a major policy announcement on regulating short stays.

If We Live Here learns of any plans by Council, we will be sure to let our readers know.


Out of business and out of luck

Nerida Pohl, stalwart resident’s rights champion, has reported that her building’s manager has ceased trading with debts of many millions. Our intrepid correspondent believes a financial investigation is warranted.

Regular readers will recall our coverage of the seven-year battle against the arrogation of the lobby and loading dock by the commercial interests.


We Live Here will monitor this case closely because it is an exemplar both of the chicanery permitted under the flawed Owners Corporation Act and the power of residents standing up to the cupidity of developers.

We celebrate Nerida’s win – this building now has a democratically elected committee of residents rather than proxy-backed manager’s appointees.

Get Started Now
]]>Mon, 01 May 2023 13:35:00 +1000<![CDATA[23.04 Aurora-gate exposes inadequate laws]]>https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/post/2023041
The battle for the owners' corporation at Aurora Melbourne Central has underlined the woeful inadequacies of Victoria's strata laws and VCAT tribunal system. 

The Aurora building, with a staggering 1000 apartments over 85 storeys, has been the centre of allegations of abusive, threatening behaviour, harsh rules and unlawful fines. 
The internet has been deluged with video evidence of ugly physical arguments in the corridors and lobby.
At the core of the dispute is the issue of proxies. 
We have grave concerns that the Aurora-gate debacle may become the paradigm for apartments across Melbourne. 
Why can't this happen in Victoria? Perhaps because the Victorian Government seems to be committed to inertial indolence when it comes to legislative reform.
Last year the government introduced oddly timid laws that limit proxy holdings to five per cent. 
We Live Here can help apartment residents and owners build awareness about the problems exacerbated or caused by government inaction. 
A public review of the Owners Corporation Act, first promised by the state government for 2021, was never conducted. 

Green pressure Labor on short stays
Short stay accommodation is almost entirely unregulated in Victoria, and it's making the rental crisis worse." With this opening salvo, Greens spokesperson for renters' rights Gabrielle de Vietri MP announced a new campaign pressuring the Victorian Labor Government to introduce short-stay regulations.
Ms de Vietri went on to say, "We need to introduce strong short-stay regulations to ensure affordable housing is available to families and workers experiencing housing stress.
Cities around the world like New York, London, and Berlin regulate their short-stay market, it's time for us to do the same." 
The Greens propose: 
- A 90-day cap on how many nights a year you can rent out an entire property as a short-stay.
- Allowing owners' corporations to regulate short-stays for properties of absentee owners.
- A new mandatory public register of short-stay operators.

We Live Here applauds the wider socioeconomic view being taken by the Greens.



Get Started Now
]]>Sat, 01 Apr 2023 13:34:00 +1100<![CDATA[23.03 The monster eating Melbourne]]>https://www.welivehere.net/newsletters/post/2023031
Local councils are fighting back against the short-stay behemoth that's causing chaos across the city. 

Melbourne councils suffering with short-stay issues want the state government to codify the powers needed for basic regulations to manage the virtually uncontrolled short-stay industry.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Steve Holland has reportedly called on the state government to give councils stronger powers over short stay operators. Speaking to the media, the Mayor said, "we get the complaints, so our feeling is we're best placed to deal with some of these problems." The council is seeking the powers to ban short-stay operators from listing properties with repeat problems.

The issue is large scale – Mornington Peninsula has about 5000 properties just on Airbnb, according to insideairbnb.com, a site that monitors the platform. The council says almost 4000 people are on the public housing waiting lists and an estimated 1000 are experiencing homelessness.

Recently Mornington Peninsula introduced a $311 registration fee for short-stay listed homes. While the council can revoke an operator's registration, its powers are limited and enforcement costs are greater than the fees collected.

Meanwhile, Warrnambool City Council has introduced a registration scheme, charging operators $400 for properties listed as short stays.

City of Port Phillip is also under pressure to implement regulations, with a registration system being the bare minimum. Residents in the municipality have been contacting We Live Here to express their frustration.

Here are some examples of the vox populi: 
"The reformed rules at the VCAT regarding short terms looks great on paper but are actually very weak when it comes to a legal process. It takes years to follow the process, meanwhile neighbouring residents sell up or move on because their apartment is unbearable to live in." 
"These unregulated short-term rentals are affecting the wider community in terms of homelessness, affordable housing purchase and rental availability for people who want to live here." 
"Victoria needs to wake up and understand how this unregulated business is destroying neighbourhoods and implement laws like WA, TAS and NSW by making it compulsory for short term providers to register their business with the local council and limit any short-term rental to 180 days a year."
"Imagine living next door to a venue that does not have to answer to anyone in terms of sound pollution, number of patrons, age-limits or operating hours. This is in fact what goes on across our suburb." 

The state government claims that its short-stay bill "limits disruption" caused by short-stays. We have been campaigning against this anaemic, unworkable Airbnb bill for six years – we are unable to find a single case where VCAT has ruled in favour of residents.
Let's change this, Minister Pearson.



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]]>Wed, 01 Mar 2023 13:34:00 +1100