NSW GOVERNMENT GIFTS ALL HOUSING TO SHORT-TERM RENTAL PLATFORMS

By way of a ‘no reply’ email, the NSW Government has today announced ‘New provisions for Short-term Rental Accommodation (STRA)’.

“The NSW Government is pleased to announce that the new statewide Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) planning policy has been made today, 9 April 2021 and will come into effect on 30 July 2021, to provide industry participants time to familiarise themselves with the new policy before it takes effect.

The new statewide policy for STRA will benefit homeowners who want to take advantage of holiday rentals while providing more certainty and safety for locals and visitors.

The department thoroughly considered feedback received during the public exhibition of the STRA policy to ensure the home sharing economy in NSW is supported while also being respectful of community concerns.

STRA policy

The new policy has been introduced via amendments to State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (EP&A Regulation) and comprises:

a new definition for STRA, hosted STRA and non-hosted STRA;
an exempt development pathway for hosted and non-hosted STRA, including a 180 day limit restriction for non-hosted STRA based on location;
an exemption of bookings of 21 consecutive days or more from the day limits for non-hosted STRA;
minimum fire safety standards for dwellings used for STRA and associated penalty notice offences for non-compliance; and
a new Government-run online STRA register.

More details regarding the new statewide policy, including the new online STRA Register and fire safety standard, can be found by visiting our website.

Byron Shire

The Government acknowledges that STRA is a complex issue in the Byron Shire Local Government Area, and therefore the new statewide STRA policy will not apply in the Byron Shire LGA until 31 January 2022.

After this date, the STRA provisions will apply, including a maximum of 180 days per year for non-hosted STRA.

STRA Register

From 30 July 2021, all dwellings proposed to be used for STRA will be required to be registered on the new STRA Register.

Registration ensures that all STRA dwellings satisfy the new fire safety standard, as well as having the ability to capture the number of days a dwelling is used for STRA.

The STRA Register will be available to the public for dwelling registrations from 10 April 2021. All hosts are encouraged to register their dwellings prior to the new provisions taking effect on 30 July 2021.

Code of Conduct

The Government’s new STRA policy further complements NSW Fair Trading’s new mandatory Code of Conduct for the Short-term Rental Accommodation Industry, which came into force on 18 December 2020.

The Code of Conduct, which can be found here, includes behavioural obligations for guest and hosts and disciplinary actions for breaches against the Code.

More information

We have developed a suite of factsheets and FAQs, which are available on our website. If you have questions about the Register, call our information line on 1300 305 695.

Yours sincerely,

Marcus Ray

Group Deputy Secretary, Planning & Assessment

Department of Planning, Industry and Environment"

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Given the statement above, no compensation will be paid to those who have purchased and hold Title Deeds on residential dwellings in NSW; the State Government is retrospectively altering residents’ proprietary rights without financial compensation. And there will be no reimbursement of Stamp Duty paid on residential dwellings.

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