Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

Airbnb

<html><body>
If you’re considering purchasing a <a href="/developments/qld">rental property</a>, or perhaps you have a spare bedroom or vacation planned and are looking into creative ways to make extra cash – then read on, as we have some great insider information about the world of Airbnb.

Did you know that Airbnb rentals in Brisbane bring in an <a href="https://www.openagent.com.au/blog/how-to-run-a-successful-airbnb">average daily rate of $150</a>? They also retain a substantial <a href="https://www.openagent.com.au/blog/how-to-run-a-successful-airbnb">occupancy rate of 67%</a>, meaning a steady flow of bookings year-round. Across Australia, Airbnb is also proving popular among business travellers, with an <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-01/motels-hitting-the-wall-as-airbnb-online-booking-prevails/11367452">increase of 59%</a> work travel bookings made by millennials in the past 12 months.

One of the greatest ways to secure regular bookings for your Airbnb is by <a href="/developments/qld">choosing the right property</a>. Three of the key considerations to take into account during your property search are:

<ul>
<li>Location</li>
	<li>Amenity</li>
	<li>Apartment size/configuration</li>
</ul>
In order to help you choose the best rental property, we reached out to Brisbane Airbnb management company <a href="https://breezybnb.com/">Breezybnb</a> to help us identify our top listings in Queensland, based on their industry knowledge.

Here are Breezybnb’s top 5 apartments for Airbnb in Brisbane.

<h2>#1 <a href="/buildings/brisbane-skytower-222-margaret-street-brisbane">BRISBANE SKY TOWER</a>
</h2>

222 Margaret Street, Brisbane QLD

Architect: <a href="/architects/nra-co-lab">NRA Co Lab</a>

Developer: <a href="/developers/amp-capital">AMP Capital</a>, <a href="/developers/billbergia">Billbergia</a>

Builder: <a href="/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a>

<figure><a href="/buildings/brisbane-skytower-222-margaret-street-brisbane"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="334" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/brisbane-skytower-apartments-1.jpg?itok=GEoU6rKV" title="Image supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image supplied</figcaption></figure>"For Airbnb guests, the excitement of staying in the tallest building in the city adds an extra level of desirability for apartments in Brisbane Skytower. The higher floors are the obvious picks, and even better if you have a room with a view for Riverfire festival! Breezybnb manages some 2-bedroom apartments in the building with 90% occupancy at $153 a night. The 2-bedrooms are usually more popular as the addition of a sofa bed can fit 6 adults which helps the apartments command a higher nightly rate." – Silver Lim, Breezybnb Brisbane Acquisitions

<hr>
<h2>#2 <a href="/buildings/aston-residences-9-edmondstone-street-south-brisbane">ASTON RESIDENCES</a>
</h2>

9 Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane QLD

Architect: Bureau Proberts

Developer: Effinity

<figure><a href="/buildings/aston-residences-9-edmondstone-street-south-brisbane"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="323" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/aston-residences-exterior-1.jpg?itok=cmkbipw2" title="Image supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image supplied</figcaption></figure>"The Aston Residences have an individuality which makes them a jewel that is hidden below the South Brisbane skyline. The low rise development is an attractive pick for business travellers who might be on an extended stay and prefer to avoid the sometimes chaotic foyers and carparks of larger developments. Proximity to some stellar restaurants &amp; cafes and resort-style amenities makes this a hot pick for the executive traveller." – Silver Lim, Breezybnb Brisbane Acquisitions

<hr>
<h2>#3 <a href="/buildings/lucid-38-hope-street-south-brisbane">LUCID</a>
</h2>

38 Hope Street, South Brisbane QLD 

Architect: <a href="/architects/mirvac-design">Mirvac Design</a>

Developer: <a href="/developers/mirvac">Mirvac</a>

<figure><a href="/buildings/lucid-38-hope-street-south-brisbane" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="280" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image_41.jpg?itok=6N47qMyh" title="Image supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image supplied</figcaption></figure>"Located a stone’s throw away from South Brisbane Station, Lucid is sure to be popular with guests looking for convenient accommodation. Brisbane Central is a mere two stops away. A 2-bedroom unit would be in demand by families and groups of friends looking for a medium-sized place to stay. Being in close proximity to the Performing Arts Centre and the Convention Centre means you can increase your nightly rate whenever there are events scheduled. A stunning sky deck on Level 30 with a private dining room, BBQ amenities and an infinity-edge pool allows guests a place to relax and adds the wow factor to your Airbnb photos that everyone is attracted to." – Silver Lim, Breezybnb Brisbane Acquisitions

<hr>
<h2>#4 <a href="/buildings/ivy-eve-22-28-merivale-street-south-brisbane">IVY &amp; EVE</a>
</h2>

22-28 Merivale Street, South Brisbane QLD

Architect: <a href="/architects/ml-architecture">ML Architects</a>

Developer: <a href="/developers/abacus-property-group">Abacus Property Group</a>

Builder: <a href="/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a>

<figure><a href="/buildings/ivy-eve-22-28-merivale-street-south-brisbane"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="322" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-09-03_at_11.34.49_am.png?itok=9kbPfJ0f" title="Image supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image supplied</figcaption></figure> 

"The Ivy &amp; Eve Apartments boasts a fantastic location, just a street away from South Brisbane Station. You’ll find a variety of hip cafes, restaurants and international cuisines located on neighbouring streets (Fish Lane) so guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to mealtimes. 1 or 2-bedroom apartments are both popular with Brisbane Airbnb guests. With the Queensland Museum and Science Centre located nearby, not to mention the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, plus various theatres and playhouses, guests will enjoy attractions conveniently located in the vicinity of their stay. Fancy a relaxing day in? The building itself offers luxurious amenities such a pool, gym, a BBQ area and even an outdoor cinema. You’ll be able to charge $140/night for a 1-bedroom in this centrally-located development with an expected occupancy of 85%+" – Silver Lim, Breezybnb Brisbane Acquisitions

<hr>
<h2>#5 <a href="/buildings/brisbane-one-1-cordelia-street-south-brisbane">BRISBANE ONE</a>
</h2>

1 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane QLD

Architect: Bureau Proberts

Developer: <a href="/developers/rf-property-australia">R&amp;F Property Australia</a>

<figure><a href="/buildings/brisbane-one-1-cordelia-street-south-brisbane" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="image-article_full_width_580px" height="418" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-09-03_at_11.36.05_am.png?itok=H-fggwOr" title="Image supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image supplied</figcaption></figure>"Located near the Brisbane River and South Brisbane Station, the Brisbane One project with its magnificent river views is sure to be a hit with guests looking to explore Brisbane from a convenient home base. A variety of international cuisines, cafes, pubs and restaurants located in the area will ensure that mealtimes are a breeze. The amenities such as a rooftop spa, recreation area and lagoon pool are sure to impress your guests (and make for great photos on your listing), not to mention a spacious private balcony in every apartment. An average of $160/night for a 2-bedroom at 75% occupancy would be easy to achieve in this location." – Silver Lim, Breezybnb Brisbane Acquisitions
</body></html>

Olivia Round

Breezybnb chooses Urban’s 5 best Brisbane apartments for Airbnb

<html><body>
The New South Wales Government are set to introduced a regulatory framework around short term rental accomodation (STRA).
The industry was estimated to be worth $31.3 billion nationally in 2016.
New South Wales alone made up around half of that figure. Sydney ranks as one of Airbnb’s top ten cities for most properties on the platform. In June 2018 the <a href="/news/nsw-government-puts-cap-on-sydney-airbnb-rentals-with-regional-councils-able-to-follow">NSW government put a 180-day cap</a> on the number of empty days properties can be rented out by Airbnb in Sydney.
It also gave strata corporations the power to ban Airbnb in their buildings if 75 percent of owners seek the ban.
The government are now set to implement a new regulatory framework at some point this year which includes a mandatory code of conduct, new planning instruments and a possible register of all STRA properties.
Kevin Anderson, minister for better regulation, encouraged anyone with an interest in STRA — whether they be hosts, guests, neighbours, industry associations or booking platforms — to <a href="http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank">have their say while consultation is open</a> on all elements of the new framework.
“The mandatory Code of Conduct will facilitate oversight of STRA providers, including providing for the resolution of complaints and disputes regarding the conduct of hosts and guests,” Anderson said.
 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/8/14/STRA%20framework.jpg" alt="">
The code will establish a ‘two strikes and you’re out’ policy.
Hosts or guests who commit two serious breaches of the code within two years will be banned for five years.
Platforms and letting agents will not be permitted to offer services to anyone, or any dwelling, that is listed on the exclusion register.
A strike will include any behaviour which unreasonably interferes with a neighbour’s quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their home.
“Under the Code, all participants will be required to act honestly and in good faith and comply with directions and requests from the Commissioner for Fair Trading," Anderson added.
“Hosts’ obligations relate to holding an appropriate level of public liability insurance and providing neighbours and owners corporations with information such as the host’s contact details, and that they are bound by the Code of Conduct during their stay.
"Guests will have to ensure their behaviour does not unreasonably impact on neighbours and will be required to take reasonable care of the property.
“Our proposal includes making the industry responsible for funding, developing and administering the register – with any registration system applying to all STRA properties, including those let through online booking platforms,” Anderson said.
Stayz has welcomed the registration proposal.
Stayz corporate affairs director, Eacham Curry said that while the details will still have to be worked through, the proposed industry-led registration system is an innovative approach to co-regulating the sector.
“By clarifying the boundaries of our sector, a simple register of all holiday rentals has the potential to ensure that local governments, communities and our industry can work together to improve amenity and make more informed decisions about urban planning," Curry said.
"We look forward to working with the NSW Government and other stakeholders on designing a nation leading registration system."
More information on the Code of Conduct for STRA can be found on the Fair Trading website at <a href="https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank">www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au</a>.
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Airbnb short term rental rules in New South Wales get closer

<html><body>
Today, there are more than <a href="https://www.traveltrends.biz/ttn555-Airbnb+By+The+Numbers+in+Australia+2017">180,000 Airbnb listings</a> available across Australia – some of which earn upwards of $1 million per year by listing their home or even just a spare bedroom. If you're currently in the market for an investment property or you travel frequently and <a href="/developments">own an apartment</a>, Airbnb could be a great option for you to ensure your home remains occupied year-round. The best way to get started in the Airbnb game is to make sure you have a decent set of photos of your apartment, which can be easily achieved by following a few simple steps. There are many photographers that will offer great Airbnb photography services, but if you'd like to give it a go yourself, here are a few surefire tricks that will boost the quality of your listing instantly. 

<h2>1. Use a wide-angle lens</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/jakob-owens-zl2y734oreg-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="426" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/jakob-owens-zl2y734oreg-unsplash.jpg?itok=KrncYa9s" width="580"></a></figure>The first step before you begin photographing your home is to choose a lens which is 35mm or smaller for the widest possible angle. The wider your angle, the more you'll fit in the frame which will create more space and breathing room in your image.

<h2>2. Opt for natural lighting</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/daniil-silantev-nbuilbz_j4a-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="385" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/daniil-silantev-nbuilbz_j4a-unsplash.jpg?itok=LZzshAgj" width="580"></a></figure>An interior photograph that has been taken using harsh pop-flash or utilising the rooms regular tungsten bulbs will often look unnatural and/or create unappealing shadows. Instead, opt for natural light where possible, and use warm lamps to add more fill light to create a less jarring aesthetic.

<h2>3. Photograph at dawn or dusk (also known as "golden hour")</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/tadej-skofic-vwxiakn-lvc-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="382" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/tadej-skofic-vwxiakn-lvc-unsplash.jpg?itok=-anx0Hsk" width="580"></a></figure>Ask any photographer when the best time of day to take photos is, and they will most likely tell you "golden hour". This is the time of day that occurs in the early morning and evening, where the sun is low, and radiates a diffuse golden glow, making everything look luminous. If possible, observe the light patterns in your apartment leading up to the day of your photoshoot, and take test shots to figure out when your home looks it's best. If you are pushed for time and have to photograph in the middle of the day when the sun is at it's highest, position lamps in the areas of shadow, and pull blinds/drapes across to shade areas which are too "hot" or bright.

<h2>4. Position your camera as far into the corner as possible</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/nastuh-abootalebi-jdcjn85xd2k-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nastuh-abootalebi-jdcjn85xd2k-unsplash.jpg?itok=PgAiv_Vd" width="580"></a></figure>If you've got a nice telephoto lens, you're off to a good start, however, to maximise the space in your photo, cram your camera (or yourself and your camera) into each corner of the room to take your photos. You can then complement these wide shots with detail images of special features such as the collection of books in a bookcase, or board games on a coffee table. 

<h2>5. Shoot from a low angle without distorting perspective</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/dan-gold-4hg3ca3ezww-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/dan-gold-4hg3ca3ezww-unsplash.jpg?itok=Uwf6KWi2" width="580"></a></figure>While a downwards perspective will make your room appear smaller, a very slight upward angle can actually have the reverse effect. Be careful not to get too low as this can distort the perspective, however, a few inches below eye level can create the desired aesthetically perfectly.

<h2>6. Dress the room with homely accessories</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/deborah-diem-pnvpggk4az0-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/deborah-diem-pnvpggk4az0-unsplash.jpg?itok=t7JXLkI_" width="580"></a></figure>The photographs of your home may be beautiful, but chances are so are 500+ other homes in your area. Show your creativity by displaying plush rugs, quirky ornaments, art, a snack platter, bottle of wine, or vase of flowers to make your listing stand out. One thing to bear in mind is that your guests may not be keen to arrive at a treasure trove of clutter and dusty ornaments after a 15-hour flight, so do show your personality but also maintain a sense of minimalism. How can you achieve this? Turn your camera to "live view" and add/remove items to decide which styling looks best. 

<h2>7. Show off any on-site amenities  </h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/nick-karvounis-u6-y8vpac24-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nick-karvounis-u6-y8vpac24-unsplash.jpg?itok=qSjiu3wC" width="580"></a></figure>Got a pool in your apartment building? Post a photo of it and you could win a booking over an equally great house that doesn't have a pool. If you offer free bicycle use, paddleboards, breakfast or access to a tennis court, take photos of these too! Photos are often the first thing people look at before reading the description, so this is a great way to make your listing stand out from the rest. 

<h2>8. Utilise symmetry and leading line </h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hutomo-abrianto-9mpl0zo7_gq-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/hutomo-abrianto-9mpl0zo7_gq-unsplash.jpg?itok=pXzWEdoW" width="580"></a></figure>According to <a href="http://users.rider.edu/~suler/photopsy/symmetry.htm">photographic psychology</a>, symmetry creates a sense of calmness, relaxation and order. To avoid the photo looking too artificial or boring, subtle differences between the two sides of symmetry can add some points of interest and provide the perfect balance for the eye to travel around the image naturally. Leading lines will draw the viewer's eye into the subject, such as balustrades, pathways, table edges or any other diagonal lines which lead to a pivotal focal point.

<h2>9. Brighten and bump up the contrast in post-production</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/alexandra-gorn-w5dsm9n6e3g-unsplash.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="869" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/alexandra-gorn-w5dsm9n6e3g-unsplash.jpg?itok=OjRtKXkK" width="580"></a></figure>Finally, once you've taken all your photos, you may wish to boost the brightness and up the contrast in post-production to give your photos some vibrancy. When editing, ensure you keep all the settings the same across your batch of images for consistency and refrain from adding filters. 
</body></html>

How to photograph your apartment for Airbnb (9 simple tips)

<html><body>
The financial benefit of an Airbnb property isn’t always clear cut to investors says Co-founder, investor and Executive Chair of LongView Real Estate, Evan Thornley, who believes that Airbnb may offer an opportunity to leverage higher returns than what can be achieved with a traditional rental.

According to Thornley, about 5 per cent of all the properties in Melbourne have the opportunity to make a better return if used as an Airbnb. However, the most important question investors need to ask themselves is if it makes sense to go into Airbnb or short term furnished.

<blockquote>
“There are a lot more family and group travellers who want to stay in an Airbnb than there is suitable Airbnb’s in Australia. Therefore, when demand is greater than supply the price is driven up. 

I purchased a small block of small art deco apartments in St Kilda, which was prime Airbnb territory. The apartments were, at the time, in traditional rent so we decided to move them over to Airbnb. 

Within a year, I was getting more than 40 percent more cash in the bank each year than I was getting through traditional rent and that’s a lot!

The amount of money you can get per bedroom in a four bedroom house in St Kilda on Airbnb is about twice as much per bedroom for a two bedroom apartment in St Kilda. Therefore, investors have the opportunity to make about four times as much money in the house even though it’s only got twice as many bedrooms.”

- Evan Thornley, Co-founder, investor and Executive Chair of LongView Real Estate
</blockquote>

Most investors and landlords assume that an Airbnb works best if it’s a small apartment located in the city.

Whilst this is true in some cases, unfortunately, a lot of these Airbnb’s are making the same return as those in traditional rent. This is partly due to the oversupply of small apartments located in CBD’s on Airbnb.

LongView have a very particular point of view when it comes to selecting the best properties to be listed on Airbnb, and it’s exactly not what most people think. In the right locations, houses, town houses and even whole small blocks of apartments is where the big opportunities lie with value for the investor.

Thornley says, there is a particular segment of travellers such as family and group travellers and unfortunately, there is very limited places for a large group to stay in. Whole families travelling together, two families travelling together, a group of people coming down for a wedding, a corporate group that are here for a project for three months.

There are very few places you can stay that give you all the benefits of an Airbnb, concludes Thornley.
</body></html>

urban.com.au

Airbnb a real game changer for investors, says LongView's Evan Thornley

<html><body>
The ATO are set to allow campervan and motorhome owners to claim new tax deductions when renting out the liveable vehicles.
The move comes after the emergence of <a href="https://www.camplify.com.au/" target="_blank">Camplify, the campervan rental site</a> which has become known as the Airbnb for campervans.
The website suggests a rental per week can fetch from anywhere between $250 and $2,100.
Camplify, Australia's number one caravan hire and RV sharing community, has around 4,000 members in Australia and is expecting many more after the landmark ruling which has been 18 months in the making.
There are some 500,000 motorhomes in Australia, and most only hit the road between four to six weeks of the year, Camplify's website suggests.
The new rules will allow deductions for depreciation, repairs, maintenance, insurance, consumables, cleaning, management fees and storage costs, the Australian Financial Review reported.
Owners will be able to claim 100 percent of the expenses directly related to hiring their vehicles when listed with the platform.
Co-founder and chief executive of Camplify Justin Hales told StartupSmart he initially approached the ATO to “engage with them on how this would work under current tax laws”,.
“It was about providing the right information in terms of what we believed this meant for our customers, being able to add a lot of value to our owners, and being able to position them in a way that works for them in a financial arrangement,” Hales says.
“A lot of that is tax," he said.
Camplify chief executive Justin Hales told the AFR Camplify gives people who already have vans an extra reason to consider listing them," he said.
"A lot of people we have spoken to over the past couple of years say this is a reason why they might want to buy a van. They might not have been convinced purchasing an RV was right for them.
"For those investor types who are looking to do whatever they can to get a good return, it's another great way to get that."
"We wanted to collaborate with the ATO about the sharing economy and our space in it, because we wanted to be able to provide our customers with good information," he said.
"We wanted to be able to be seen as a bit of an industry leader in the field.
"Our business is growing at a rapid rate. Lots and lots of customers are listing their vans. It's one of those perfect sharing economy assets because it costs a lot of money to buy, and has very low personal usage for most people."
The company was founded in 2014 with an initial $30,000 investment. It is now valued between $16 million and $20 million.
The website provided a case study.
The Chief decides to purchase an RV with his wife Pam. They are going to use the RV for 8 weeks of holidays during the year with their 3 kids. The rest of the time the RV will be listed on Camplify’s website for Hire. The Chief hires his RV at $650 per week for 22 weeks of the year on Camplify. Let’s take a look at the tax position for The Chief and Pam...
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
 
<img src="https://www.camplify.com.au/client_images/2056497.png">
<img src="https://www.camplify.com.au/client_images/2056498.png">
<img src="https://www.camplify.com.au/client_images/2056499.png">
 
*Case Study put together by Growthwise for Camplify Owners.
 
</div>
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Airbnb for campervans gets ATO tax deductions green light

<html><body>
An 1870s Portarlington guesthouse has been sold for $822,100.
Homebuyers and developers had expressed interest in the 1872 Mulane Cottage with the local paper advising it was bought by a home buyer.
It sits on a 1,009 sqm block at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-portarlington-128502110" target="_blank">64 Stevens Street</a>.
It has been listed by Bellarine Property’s Ange Callan-Harris who noted the potential of the Residential Growth 3 zoning.
There’s no heritage overlay with subdivision a prospect for some of the 40 inquiries. 
There had been 25 inspections over about three weeks.
Its price hopes were put as from $740,000 to $810,000.
Set in cottage gardens behind picket fencing, the weatherboard was built by Joseph Mulane.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Portarlington Airbnb guesthouse sold

<html><body>
Hotel developer and operator Paul Fischmann will market rooms in his recently acquired Surry Hills hotel through Airbnb.
He says its because it's a "hell of a lot cheaper than using online travel agents".
Airbnb charges commission rates of about 3%, while online travel agents like Expedia and Booking.com can take up to 20% of a hotel booking.
Fischmann's 8Hotels will develop a new 40-room boutique Surry Hills hotel, after acquiring a 329 square metre site off-market from Colin Rahim and Peter Sukkar, the founders of construction firm Growbuilt.
The new hotel will have a "Lower East Side New York" feel, The Australian Financial Review reported.
The site at 202-210 Elizabeth Street will be developed into a $30 million hotel. It is next to the Triple Ace Bar.
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-nsw-surry+hills-502478770" target="_blank">The site</a> had a permit for a boarding house with approval for 38 self-contained boarding house rooms including private bathrooms and kitchens and two ground floor retail shops fronting Elizabeth Street.
</body></html>

Hotel developers turning to Airbnb over more expensive Expedia

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
The previously unregulated short-term letting industry in NSW has just seen some big changes and investors are being warned to watch out. Regulations to Airbnb were going to happen eventually, but on Tuesday the wheels were finally set in motion.    The game changer that has occurred and why Airbnb now only makes sense for home owners and not investors.     Airbnb are going back to their grass roots in NSW.   Originally the platform was set up for people who wanted to rent out some spare rooms in their own home as an alternative to backpacker accommodation for travellers, thus allowing home owners to make some spare cash.   The Airbnb platform has since been exploited and has become the short-term accommodation platform for investors to maximise profits.   Without proper regulation and no barriers to entry this has resulted in many complaints from local communities and a need for government and other regulators to step in.   Regulators have stepped in and the regulations are being deemed as "the toughest laws in the world to crack down on bad behaviour” by Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean for good reason.   Many investors are left screaming “what about our returns” but I've been cautioning Airbnb investors for many years on investing in a new to market concept that has always been very unregulated.     If you're going to invest hundreds of thousands into an industry in its infancy, you need to have an appetite for risk and be prepared that it may not last long.   Investors should have assessed their numbers based on long term rentals as well and ensured they were still able to afford their investment, without a supplementary Airbnb income.   We saw so many people jump on the band wagon without really understanding the risks associated with it.   This might only be rolling out for Sydney at the moment, but it is setting a benchmark for other locations to follow. Councils like Byron Bay have been threatening tighter regulation in this sector for a while now and are also heading down this path.    The regulations follow other countries like Japan where in recent weeks only 13,800 properties were left on the platform after an estimated 68,000 properties removed almost overnight when regulatory changes came into play.    The market has seen an oversupply of property in many locations resulting in downward pressure on pricing and Airbnb hosts having to take lower fees to avoid vacancy and bigger group bookings to make up the numbers.    Don’t think that this is exclusive to Airbnb, this will impact all short-term accommodation platforms ‘like Airbnb’ but the likes of stays and <a href="http://bookings.com/">bookings.com</a>will also come under the same scrutiny.   The property market, in Airbnb hotspots will see more properties being taken from the short-term rental market and moved over to long term leases and even some investors pulling the pin altogether as a follow-on effect from the regulation.   Some investors will not want to conform with the legislation and will have to put their property on the market, as many of the properties are set up as rentals only and not in an area that the owner of the property resides.   Some property owners simply can’t adapt and will have only two options, a long-term lease with significantly lower returns, or to sell.   The policy is set to be reviewed in 12 months’ time.   This regulation really only starts to scratch the surface of some of the issues in the short term letting sector. Many property owners are renting out rooms or whole homes without consideration given to the safety of the occupants.   We see many properties that are not compliance with fire regulations, pool safety, building codes, railing heights on balcony’s, and many other safety hazards that put occupants, including families with children at risk. If you rent our a property on a long term lease, or you are a commercial hotel venture you need to be compliant. But this sector of the DIY hotel space has continued to circumvent their obligations to other peoples safety. It wont be long before this too comes into the spotlight, and so it should.
Anna Porter is a property commentator and valuer at <a href="https://suburbanite.com.au/" target="_blank">Suburbanite</a>. 
</body></html>

Here's what Airbnb's whirlwind changes mean for investors - and it sucks

<html><body>
There have previously been attempts to restrict Airbnb in Sydney, but owners corporations have failed.
Owners corporations in the past have attempted to block Airbnb letting, the most notable case was in Woollahra.
Alisa Taylor, a partner at Meyer Vandeberg Lawyers, noted the issue.
The landlord was Ms Peta Estens, who paid $580,000 for her one bedroom courtyard apartment in 2015.
Estens regularly let her apartment, due to her frequent travelling interstate and overseas.
"She was selective with the guests she permitted to lease the property and always found the apartment in impeccable condition when she returned," Taylor noted.
There were only two complaints over a 12 month period, with guests misusing the washing machine in the commercial laundry.
Taylor said Ms Estens changed the rules on her listing, limiting the use of the washing machines and also prohibiting pets.
The owners corporation in the small block of five had passed a 'special by-law', having the effect that Airbnb was an illegal use for all units in the complex.
Estens then sought an order from the NCAT to invalidate the rule, on the basis the owners corporation didn't have the power to make it.
She relied on a 2016 NSW Legislative Committee Environmental Planning Report which said that (among other things) the committee regarded short term letting of a residential property as ‘residential use of the same character as longer term letting or traditional tenancy’.
The owners corporation argued that no section Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) permitted the use of Airbnb.
The owners corporation said that the common areas of the building were being subjected to a high rate of wear and tear as a result of luggage being continuously moved in and out of Ms Esten’s unit, and also pointed to issues of security and control of short term occupiers including abatement of noise.
Ultimately the NCAT agreed with Ms Estens, declaring an owners corporation cannot pass by-laws banning short-term letting.  
"The NCAT said that it was satisfied that the manner in which the Airbnb arrangement operates ‘is sufficient to constitute a tenancy or lease’," Taylor advised.
"The NCAT based this on the fact that the tenant has exclusive possession of the property, and concluded that the arrangement is properly described as a lease rather than a licence."
 
<a href="mailto:Alisa.Taylor@MVLawyers.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> </a>
 
 
</body></html>

Airbnb court case ends in landlord owner win against owners corporation

<html><body>
The NSW government will impose a 180-day cap on the number of days empty properties can be rented out by Airbnb in Sydney.
It will also give strata corporations the power to ban Airbnb in their buildings if 75 percent of owners seek the ban. 
Short-term holiday letting is currently unregulated in NSW. 
Sydney ranks as one of Airbnb’s top ten cities for most properties on the platform.
The new laws come with no caps across the rest of the state, but councils outside of greater Sydney will have the power to impose their own caps, though no lower than 180 days per year. Byron Bay could move first as its locals have been affected by increased rent as its short-term holiday rental market booms. It has been calculated that in Byron shire visitors outnumber locals by a ratio of 70 to one.
Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean was forced to go back and consult with the government's backbench after MPs revolted over the initial cabinet-approved policy, which proposed only the 180-day cap but gave no power to the individual strata committees.
Hosts or guests who commit two serious breaches of the code within two years could be by Airbnb from using Airbnb and other similar platforms for five years, and placed on an exclusion register.
Kean described the reforms as the "toughest laws in world to crack down on bad behaviour" in the short-term letting industry.
"We've got the balance right between protecting people's property rights, between recognising owner's corporations have a role to play in the governance of strata schemes, and ensuring people who want to use these platforms like Airbnb are able to do so," Mr Kean said.
Airbnb’s Global Head of Policy Chris Lehane championed the reforms as a potential "world model" for the industry, describing them as "fair and balanced". Lehane said Airbnb was comfortable with sharing its data with government agencies.
International cities like Berlin and Barcelona have found regulating these platforms is not always easy with enforcing restrictions against individual hosts cumbersomely costly.
<div>
The home sharing platform Airbnb came out in support of a limit on the number of days a investment property can be rented in NSW strata, as it sought to avoid a tougher regulatory crackdown by the NSW government.
In a submission to the NSW government, Airbnb said there were more than 45,000 Airbnb listings in the state with average host earning around $5,300 a year.
The NSW government's options paper, which was released last July, considered a range of options balancing protecting neighbours and allowing people to profit from providing short-term accommodation.
</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-submission-details.aspx?pk=%2053960" target="_blank">Airbnb's prior submission</a> has called for a statewide planning framework which clarifies how individuals are allowed to rent out the homes.
"Airbnb supports a clear, statewide approach that supports our host community sharing their own primary place of residence without the need for approvals, registrations, or caps, and for non-­primary places of residence, an approach that is streamlined with clear information about the safety and planning standards to adhere to," it said in the submission.
<div>
London introduced a 90-day limit a calendar year on Airbnb rentals. 
<div title="Page 13">
In June 2015, Philadelphia became the largest city in the U.S. to pass legislation specifically enabling people to share their homes for up to half a year.
<div title="Page 12">
The city of Hamburg acted to clarify that rules restricting tourist accommodation in residential areas do not apply to primary residences.
The Hamburg housing law gives residents the right to use all of their home to host guests for up to 50% of the year. Alternatively, they can use 50% of their home to host guests all year round. 
</div>
A recent City of Sydney Council survey of 1000 residents showed more than 40 per cent of Sydney inner-city residents oppose short term rentals on Airbnb or Stayz as a full-time investment and believe strata bodies should be able to ban short-term rentals.
</div>
</div>
<div>
Airbnb also recommends the NSW government set up a "three-strikes-and-you're-out" framework to manage complaints.
Airbnb opposed giving strata bodies the power to prohibit short-term renting. 
<div title="Page 3">
New South Wales’ host community has welcomed nearly 420,000 Airbnb guests during a recent twelve months which represented a year-over-year growth rate of 167 percent.
In an Economic Impact Study that Airbnb conducted in Sydney, Airbnbn found that the majority of hosts (85 percent) rent their primary residences occasionally and earn a modest but significant amount of extra income that they use to help make ends meet.
In Australia, the average host earns $7,100 per year and hosts approximately 51 nights per year.
Martin North at Digital Finance Analytics suggests a significant share of Airbnb Sydney hosts are using the platform to engage in economic activity that existed long before Airbnb did – that is, dwellings are used as serviced apartments, B&amp;Bs or holiday rentals.
"This is commercial activity, not sharing.
"These properties aren’t just “excess” unused housing space and there’s no “sharing attitude” involved," he blogged today.
Mapping the Sydney listings shows these traditional short-term lets were only about a quarter of listings, but they were overwhelmingly concentrated in suburbs with very tight rental markets.
LOCATION OF TRADITIONAL SHORT-TERM LETTING
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/221663/original/file-20180605-175451-1eumaun.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
LOCATION OF HOUSE SHARING
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/221664/original/file-20180605-175438-10z7exq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
"That’s a lot of properties in popular neighbourhoods that might otherwise be long-term rentals," North suggested.
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
 
 
 
 
</body></html>

Airbnb

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Airbnb

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News