MEDIA RELEASE
28/08/2024
GREENS SECURE KEY AIRBNB REFORMS TO FREE UP MORE HOMES FOR RENTERS
The Victorian Greens have secured key reforms that will stop property investors from hoarding homes to use as short stay accommodation, and instead make homes available for renters and first home buyers to live in.
In negotiation with the government, the Greens’ reforms will combine the 7.5% property investor levy in the Short Stay Levy Bill 2024 with stronger powers for Councils and owners’ corporations to limit or ban short stay accommodation in their communities. The reforms are due to come before Parliament this week.
Under the new changes, local governments will have the power to regulate short stay accommodation in their area – including restricting the number of short stay properties in any area, the number of days a property can be listed, introducing amenity and safety standards or banning short stay accommodation altogether. Local governments will also now have access to a register of short stay properties in their area to help them enforce any regulations.
The Greens also secured powers for owners corporations, which will have the power to prohibit short stay accommodation in their apartment buildings.
The Greens have also ensured that people who list a short-stay in their primary residence through platforms like Airbnb are exempt from the levy. This would mean those who want to temporarily let out a room in a house, or put their place up temporarily while on holiday would not be subject to the levy.
Greens member for Western Victoria Sarah Mansfield believes this reform cannot come soon enough. With summer just around the corner, popular tourist towns such as Torquay, Apollo Bay, and Port Fairy will again struggle to house key workers. This reform will empower councils to decide how they manage short-stay accommodation and strike a healthier balance between tourism and ensuring locals can put a roof over their heads.
Quotes attributable to the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Renters’ Rights, Gabrielle de Vietri:
“In the middle of a housing crisis, it’s not right that 48,000 entire homes are on Airbnb across the state. This pushes up property prices, locks out first home buyers and takes homes away from renters.
“We’ve negotiated significant reforms that will stop investors hoarding homes for profit. The Greens reforms will combine a property investor levy with new powers for councils and owners corporations to ban or limit short stay accommodation in their communities.
“We know that communities across Victoria are sick to death of property investors snapping up homes to cash in on Airbnb while locals struggle to find somewhere to live.
Quotes attributable to Greens Member for Western Victoria and Co-Deputy Leader, Dr Sarah Mansfield:
“In popular tourist towns such as Torquay, Port Fairy and Apollo Bay, residents are being pushed out due to exorbitant rent prices – and that’s if they can find a rental at all. We need our nurses, teachers, hospitality staff and childcare workers living in their communities, and in many places it’s becoming close to impossible.”
“While there is still a long way to go to realise housing as a human right instead of a means to make a profit, this reform is an important step to address the housing crisis, which is affecting so many Victorians right now. It will increase the supply of long-term rentals, and would not have happened without the Greens ongoing commitment to renters.”
Quotes attributable to Greens Councillor for Surf Coast Shire Council, Cr. Kate Gazzard
“It saddens me that young families, professionals and key workers are being priced out of the area they grew up in, they work in, or want to live in.”
“On the Surf Coast, businesses are having to close or reduce their opening hours due to key worker shortages, families are being forced to move out of the area due to the lack of long-term rental options, and many young people cannot afford to live here.”
“For councils to have stronger powers to regulate short stay accommodation will help improve affordable housing options in the region”
