Short-stay laws passed in Victoria.Your voice has been heard!
Happy New Year!
With the backing of Labor and the Greens, the Victorian Parliament has passed an amendment to the Owners Corporation Act, giving apartment owners the ability to vote on regulating short-stay letting within their buildings.
The owners corporation vote would require a 75% consensus—a high threshold that underscores the seriousness of the issue. If the short-stay platforms object to such a robust standard, it only highlights their disregard for community interests.
Local Councils have also been granted enhanced powers to enforce bylaws and address the worst excesses of short-stay platforms.
The changes also mandate a registration system for operators and a levy on each booking.
These changes are intended to target the harmful impacts of an industry that has disrupted both high-rise apartments and suburban neighbourhoods.
With the backing of Labor and the Greens, the Victorian Parliament has passed an amendment to the Owners Corporation Act, giving apartment owners the ability to vote on regulating short-stay letting within their buildings.
The owners corporation vote would require a 75% consensus—a high threshold that underscores the seriousness of the issue. If the short-stay platforms object to such a robust standard, it only highlights their disregard for community interests.
Local Councils have also been granted enhanced powers to enforce bylaws and address the worst excesses of short-stay platforms.
The changes also mandate a registration system for operators and a levy on each booking.
These changes are intended to target the harmful impacts of an industry that has disrupted both high-rise apartments and suburban neighbourhoods.
Restoring community control
This latest legislation is intended to restore community control, long after the ineffective 2018 amendment, widely derided as the "Party Bill".
That 2018 bill failed dismally even in its very limited scope to protect residents from short-stay parties, resulting in zero court findings in favour of residents over the entire six years since its enactment.
The tourism industry is divided on the new 2024 laws. Short-stay platform operators are opposed while other industry figures welcome the changes, which may help 'level the playing field'.
While these latest changes are modest, they represent a significant step forward in improving community dynamics, social equity, and quality of life.
This legislative win provides a strong foundation for continued advocacy to achieve even better laws, more consistent with the comprehensive regulations seen in other major jurisdictions worldwide.
This latest legislation is intended to restore community control, long after the ineffective 2018 amendment, widely derided as the "Party Bill".
That 2018 bill failed dismally even in its very limited scope to protect residents from short-stay parties, resulting in zero court findings in favour of residents over the entire six years since its enactment.
The tourism industry is divided on the new 2024 laws. Short-stay platform operators are opposed while other industry figures welcome the changes, which may help 'level the playing field'.
While these latest changes are modest, they represent a significant step forward in improving community dynamics, social equity, and quality of life.
This legislative win provides a strong foundation for continued advocacy to achieve even better laws, more consistent with the comprehensive regulations seen in other major jurisdictions worldwide.
A victory for persistent advocacy
This success in Victoria demonstrates the power of persistence and advocacy in achieving meaningful change. Engaging with political parties, stakeholders, and local government over several years has proven to be both challenging and rewarding.
A passionate resident campaigner from a bayside suburb celebrated this milestone, reflecting on the long journey:
This success in Victoria demonstrates the power of persistence and advocacy in achieving meaningful change. Engaging with political parties, stakeholders, and local government over several years has proven to be both challenging and rewarding.
A passionate resident campaigner from a bayside suburb celebrated this milestone, reflecting on the long journey:
“A councillor once tried to dissuade us, claiming the industry couldn’t be regulated. Thank goodness we ignored that advice. Many of our elected representatives forget that they work for us!”
“By speaking out, we changed the law for short-term accommodation. We reclaimed the rights of owners to decide whether short-stay operators can operate within their apartment buildings.”
Short-stay platforms' FAFO moment
As the popular saying goes, Fool Around and Find Out.
Some multinational short-stay platforms have brought this outcome upon themselves through their arrogance and insensitivity, including:
- Tolerating bad operators;
- Making it difficult for neighbours to report noise and antisocial behaviour;
- Legally escaping GST on accommodation fees;
- Lobbying intensively against even mild reform proposals.
As the popular saying goes, Fool Around and Find Out.
Some multinational short-stay platforms have brought this outcome upon themselves through their arrogance and insensitivity, including:
- Tolerating bad operators;
- Making it difficult for neighbours to report noise and antisocial behaviour;
- Legally escaping GST on accommodation fees;
- Lobbying intensively against even mild reform proposals.
Thank you!
"We Live Here" and local campaigners deeply appreciate everyone who contributed to this achievement, including those who lobbied members of parliament, councillors, Victoria Police, community newspapers that give us exposure, owners corporations who donated campaign funds, the Greens politicians who initiated the Bill and the Labor members who supported it.
Thank you for recognising and addressing the anti-social, divisive, and life-altering challenges posed by short-term accommodation in high-density living environments.
This win is proof that collective action can lead to meaningful change.
Let’s continue working together to protect our communities and push for stronger, more comprehensive reforms.
With gratitude,Barbara Francis
Rus Littleson
"We Live Here" and local campaigners deeply appreciate everyone who contributed to this achievement, including those who lobbied members of parliament, councillors, Victoria Police, community newspapers that give us exposure, owners corporations who donated campaign funds, the Greens politicians who initiated the Bill and the Labor members who supported it.
Thank you for recognising and addressing the anti-social, divisive, and life-altering challenges posed by short-term accommodation in high-density living environments.
This win is proof that collective action can lead to meaningful change.
Rus Littleson