Short-term property management specialist MadeComfy has teamed up with holiday rental website Stayz to ensure that the public responds to the options paper put forward by the NSW government.

The government has released a white paper asking the public to provide feedback about the various options that will go into regulating short-term rental (STR) properties across the state.

MadeComfy currently manages assets worth more than $400m on behalf of both property owners and guests in Sydney’s metropolitan area, while Stayz facilitates holiday rental bookings in both metro and regional areas across Australia.

Both companies have studied the white paper and have made recommendations on behalf of their partners and holidaying guests, who will be impacted by some of the options in the paper.

Their recommendations include:

  • Establishing industry-owned regulations, such as code of conduct for short-term rental properties, to promote safety and uphold high property management standards.

According to Quirin Schwaighofer, co-founder of MadeComfy, the code of conduct should establish and actively communicate strict house rules and bylaws, as well as list down the penalties if the house rules and bylaws are broken.  

“Examples of house rules and bylaws include no parties on the premises or additional guests, no overcrowding of bedrooms or common areas, no disruptive or antisocial behaviour … the list goes on,” he said.

  • Setting up an industry-funded body to settle disputes and act as a communication channel between the government, community, and industry.
  • Creating a short-term properties registration system.  

“Under this registration system, you have to register at the council if you rent out your property to guests,” Schwaighofer said. “This ensures that people in the community are aware and can address any complaints or concerns.”

  • Making sure that the operating license for short-term rentals includes equivalent terms as long-term letting licenses.

“That means that should you manage properties on behalf of a third party, you should require a license like long-term real property managers do,” Schwaighofer said. “This is to ensure that (a) the code of conduct is implemented and enforced, (b) rental returns are managed securely via a trust account, and (c) training and important knowledge on legislation can be coordinated throughout the licensing process.”

MadeComfy and Stayz welcome the options paper

Schwaighofer said the NSW government options paper gives both clients and the broader community a chance to voice their opinions. “We welcome the Options Paper for its potential to build a strong, community-led framework around short-term rentals,” he said.

Eacham Curry, head of government relations at Stayz, said the regional holiday letting industry has been around for decades and was a significant contributor to regional economies.

“It is encouraging that MadeComfy are supportive of the changes we are recommending to the NSW Government Options paper on short-term rentals,” Curry said. “While we have existed as an industry for years with self-regulation, we are open to there being a light touch approach to ensuring that holiday rentals can exist for years to come.”

Submissions to the NSW government options paper can be made by email or via online portals before October 31, 2017. For more information, check out Stayz’s or Madecomfy’s submission portals.  

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