Code of Conduct for Short Term Rental Accommodation, Starts on 18th December 2020

A new Code of Conduct for short-term rental accommodation starts on 18 December 2020 to better manage and address anti-social behaviour, amenity impacts (including in shared facilities such as pools and gyms) and other issues experienced by neighbours and communities. The new Code has been published on the Fair Trading website. There are new requirements under the Code for all participants, including hosts, guests, letting agents and booking platforms. The Code allows the Commissioner for Fair Trading to take disciplinary action against participants who breach the Code, including listing people who commit serious breaches on an exclusion register. People listed on the exclusion register will be banned from participating in the short-term rental accommodation industry for five years. There are more changes to come with planning controls and a premises register currently under development. Stay subscribed to Strata Update to receive updates. The Code of Conduct and more information about the regulatory framework are available on the NSW Fair Trading website. Since 10 April 2020, owners corporations can adopt by-laws that limit short-term rental accommodation in their strata scheme, by banning it in lots that are not the host’s principal place of residence. This means if someone lives in a strata property as their principal place of residence, they can rent out their home or rooms while they live there, or temporarily go on holidays. Hosts and letting agents need to be aware that COVID-19 Public Health Orders affect holiday rentals and holiday homes by imposing limitations on the number of people who can be on the premises. Short-term rental accommodation providers are required to ensure the maximum number does not exceed 20 people.

Information provided by Fair Trading NSW