LOOKING TO HOUSE YOUR FAMILY? DON’T BOTHER WITH THESE AGENTS

According to Allhomes.com, Rebecca Cribbin is “Principal, Licensed Real Estate Agent and Auctioneer”. We’ve failed to find a website for her agency – Cribbin Blencowe Estate Agents Bowral, so can’t find details of any current rentals or homes for sale. Ms Cribbin’s Linkedin profile states she manages holiday rental properties for “busy investors – we look after everything, the advertising (including a listing on Airbnb, Stayz and booking.com)…our property owners hand everything over to us and enjoy all the benefits…Holiday Rental Specialists can manage properties anywhere in Australia…and specialise in property in NSW Southern Highlands and South Coast”. Ms Cribbin writes she is a Board Member of Holiday Rental Industry Association (HIRA – now ASTRA) – (no, not any longer) – and “was on the committee working with the State Government to introduce planning certainty and regulation into the industry via the Code of Conduct” – while representatives from residents groups who had worked on the issue for a decade and those who had assisted Councils to obtain Land & Environment Court Orders were blocked by Government. Ms Cribbin’s Holiday Rental Specialists website states that property owners “don’t live locally to their property so they don’t have the necessary contacts for trades, housekeepers and maintenance and they aren’t on the ground when a guest needs assistance”. Ms Cribbin’s ‘busy investors’ have removed 350 homes from the local rental supply; her agency is a ‘Proud Member’ of the NSW Government’s DestinationNSW.

Nearby, Adam Darby’s Kangaroo Valley Getaways is a “licenced real estate agency with all staff holding the relevant qualifications in accordance with the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act”. There appears to be no rentals available however, the agency does operate 45 homes as commercial holiday rentals.

Ray White Real Estate Bendalong Manyana has no rentals available for locals; 74 homes are available for holiday rentals.

LJ Hooker Ulladulla has no homes for tenants; it does however have 57 holiday rentals. Licensee Gary Cox is a “licensed Stock and Station Agent”.

Bella Coastal Property in Ulladulla has 2 rentals for locals; and 61 holiday rentals. Principal and Licensee Rhonda Finlayson is a “true local identity and enjoys living in the best part of the world”.

In any search of holiday properties in this general area, former Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s Dungowan Estate pops up.

Craig Reid is “the owner of two of Australia’s most profitable holiday homes”; in Jervis Bay and Culburra Beach. And he runs Professional Holiday Homes. According to his Linkedin account, he is a ‘Licensed Real Estate Agent (Grade 1) NSW Fair Trading’. From Bundanoon, Callala Bay, Culburra Beach and Currarong, to Gerroa Huskisson and Kangaroo Valley, 105 homes have been removed from the rental market; rents are from $407 - $2,191 per night. Mr Reid has even published a book offering advice on how to avoid ‘rookie mistakes that can ruin a holiday rental’…let alone ruin the home lives of neighbouring residents.

Five days ago Narooma New Online published an article: “Home Truths: ‘Shoalhaven has a massive homeless problem’. “There is no housing available.” “We have got a massive problem.” “This is the worst I’ve seen it.” I’m dreading what the future’s going to bring in the Shoalhaven area.” Three days ago the Illawarra Mercury published an article: “It can happen to anyone’: After years of living in tents and between tents and caravans across the NSW South Coast…Tanya said battling the trauma of domestic violence and homelessness made it near impossible…What's increasing is the single mum who is fleeing domestic violence and needs somewhere safe," he said. "And there's just not enough places."

The Ulladulla Times quotes Lesley Labka (Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra): “The demand is crippling – in the 12 years I have worked in homelessness and domestic violence sector I have never seen anything like this. We have six beds at our refuge, covering from Berry to Ulladulla, and we have a waiting list that is so long…”

ABC Radio’s ‘The Conversation Hour’ asked in a podcast: Should short term stays be limited in Victoria? Here in NSW, we had ‘world’s best’ legislation and a long list of case law judgments, which in effect went a long way to helping protect every resident’s right to housing. The actions of Rob Stokes MP and other NSW State MPs has seen that legislation overturned and all landlords encouraged to flip homes on to the short-term rental market in search of higher returns.

The NSW Minister for Planning, Anthony Roberts MP, must rescind Rob Stokes’ Short-Term Rental SEPP. Councils must be mandated to enforce residential zoning. The proliferation of the short-term rental of residential housing is a huge problem and there remains insufficient scrutiny of and action to stop this damaging practice.

Homes not Hotels Communities not Transit Zones #Right2Housing People before Profits

Neighbours not Strangers