Central Government announces short-term rental working group
On 15 July 2020, the New Zealand Government confirmed in media reports that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) had established an inter-agency group of officials to look at short-term rental issues. The group comprises officials from a number of government agencies including StatsNZ, Inland Revenue and the Department of International Affairs, among others.
Bookabach has held preliminary conversations and shared our insights regarding key elements that nation-wide regulation should cover, including introduction of a register and Code of Conduct, to ensure it is effective.
We’ll advise as further opportunities to engage with the Government arise. "
Christchurch City Council progresses regulation for short-term rentals
Christchurch City Council’s Urban Development and Transport Committee considered a number of changes to short-term rental rules over meetings on 9 and 10 September 2020. Specifically, the Council staff proposed the below changes that were ultimately passed by Councillors:
- In residential zones, listings will require a Controlled Activity resource consent for unhosted visitor accommodation in a residential unit for up to 60 days a year. Listings for 61-180 days would remain a Discretionary Activity (the Council can decline the consent or grant it subject to conditions on any matters it considers relevant). Listings for over 180 days and visitor accommodation not in a residential unit or heritage item would become a Non-Complying Activity (the Council can only grant the consent if the application is not contrary to the objectives and policies in the Plan).
- In rural and the Papakāinga / Kāinga Nohoanga zones, permit unhosted visitor accommodation in a residential unit for up to 180 days a year subject to standards that the Council must be notified when the activity commences, records kept and provided to the Council on a regular basis. Unhosted listings for over 180 days a year would remain a Discretionary Activity.
Bookabach called on Council to continue listening to the sector to address the potential downside from unintended complexities in the proposed rules for our growing sector.
While the proposed amendments to the rules for short-term rental accommodation are an improvement on the existing approach, Bookabach believes further refinements should be made before they become policy.
These reservations include the unfair playing field between hosted and unhosted accommodation, the uncertainties and costs in the resource consents process, as well as outstanding definitional issues about the activity mechanism to determine the type of consent required for each short-term rental property.
Bookabach continues to push back against these proposals and urges the Council to work with us in advocating for a central government approach to regulation.
New Plymouth District Council announces further consultation on 90-day cap
In August 2020, New Plymouth District Council released a summary of the community submissions that it received in response to its proposal to implement an arbitrary 90-day night cap and occupancy limits for short-term rental accommodation.
The documents released by Council show widespread community opposition to Council’s plans to impose arbitrary regulation on short-term rental accommodation in the region.
Bookabach has called on Council to listen to the overwhelming community feedback and shelve plans to impose a cap on our growing sector.