{"id":42403,"date":"2023-02-26T10:18:18","date_gmt":"2023-02-25T21:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propertynoise.co.nz\/au\/?p=42403"},"modified":"2024-03-01T20:39:49","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T07:39:49","slug":"why-airbnb-wants-to-add-another-tax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propertynoise.co.nz\/au\/why-airbnb-wants-to-add-another-tax\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Airbnb wants to add another \u2018tax\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOTO: Airbnb. SUPPLIED<\/strong><\/p>\n

Short-term rental site Airbnb<\/a> has proposed a spate of measures to tackle Australia\u2019s rental crisis, but it could cost holiday-makers more.<\/p>\n

\n

Aussies could be slugged with a new, additional \u201choliday\u201d tax to stay in Airbnb properties as the short-stay giant dismisses claims they\u2019re to blame for the nation\u2019s rental property shortage.<\/p>\n

\"Anna<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n

OnlyFans star Anna Paul details terrifying Airbnb experience | WATCH<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A \u201ctourism levy\u201d is one of several regulations proposed by the online accommodation marketplace to help ease pressure on the rental market, which will see Airbnb guests paying a small fee each night of their stay to go towards funding social housing and community projects.<\/p>\n

Similar taxes already exist overseas in Barcelona, Valencia and Bali where a small payment is added to a guest\u2019s bill at certain tourism hotspots each night, with proceeds put aside for affordable housing and infrastructure development.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Those<\/div>\n

Those booking an Airbnb stay could soon be forced to fork out some extra cash in a bid to ease pressure on Australia\u2019s housing crisis. Picture: news.com.au<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

The idea follows calls for better regulation of short-term stays from money experts, real estate agents and the Victorian Greens in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

Many have suggested the market is removing housing options from long-term tenants who are being turned away in droves due to \u201cunprecedented demand\u201d.<\/p>\n

Consequently, Victorian Greens spokesperson for renters\u2019 rights Gabrielle de Vietri proposed on Monday a number of short-stay regulations to increase housing availability.<\/p>\n

\"House<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n

You can now stay at the House of Gucci villa on Airbnb | WATCH<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n

The proposal included a 90-day cap on the number of nights annually a landlord could lease a short-term rental and a mandatory public register of short-stay operators.<\/p>\n

However, online accommodation platforms Airbnb and Stayz are urging Australians to \u201cstop scapegoating the industry\u201d, as they too look at ways to ease rental market pressures.<\/p>\n

According to Dr Thomas Sigler, Associate Professor of Urban and Economic Geography at the University of Queensland, short-term rentals form less than 3 per cent of the housing stock nationally.<\/p>\n

\"Nine<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n

Rent out Nicole Kidman\u2019s Byron retreat from \u2018Nine Perfect Strangers\u2019 on Airbnb | WATCH<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n

Additionally, over one million dwellings were empty nationally on census night last year, which both platforms suggest far exceeds the number of homes listed on their sites.<\/p>\n

Airbnb added there are a number of listings on the site that are not usually fit for long-term accommodation, including tiny homes, tree houses, campervans, houseboats, lighthouses, campsites and certain hotel rooms.<\/p>\n

More than 830,000 dwellings were left unoccupied in 2006, six years prior to Airbnb arriving in Australia.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Stayz<\/div>\n

Stayz corporate affairs director Eacham Curry is calling on Australians to \u201cstop scapegoating the industry\u201d for the country\u2019s rental woes. Picture: supplied<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

As a result, key players at Airbnb and Stayz agreed the housing affordability and availability crisis is a complex issue made up of a number of factors.<\/p>\n

\u201cDisincentivising property owners from using short-term rental accommodation platforms will not mean more properties enter the pool for long-term rentals,\u201d said Eacham Curry, Director of Corporate Affairs at Stayz.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will mean less visitors and jobs to the areas that need them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Will<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n

I Put The Fresh Prince Mansion on Airbnb \u2013 Will Smith | WATCH<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n

Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb country manager for Australia and New Zealand, shared a similar view to Mr Curry, expressing that governments genuinely looking to tackle the crisis are also struggling with its complexities.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s why the renowned short-term rental marketplace has proposed a number of its own regulations that will benefit its own market and long-term tenants.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarlier this year, Airbnb proposed a series of measures that will help build stronger communities, foster sustainable tourism growth, and equip governments across Australia with tools to help address important issues, such as housing affordability and amenity,\u201d Ms Wheeldon said.<\/p>\n

In addition to Airbnb\u2019s proposed \u201ctourism levy\u201d, other ideas under Airbnb\u2019s plan include a statewide registration scheme to document how many listings exist in a location, the introduction of a consistent Codes of Conduct across the nation for guests, hosts and the community alike and support for government reviews of eviction protections.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Airbnb<\/div>\n

Airbnb Australia and New Zealand boss Susan Wheeldon has suggested a number of new measures to equal the playing field for short-term and long-term rentals. Source: Supplied.<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

Another opportunity for homeowners to earn a little extra income while helping struggling renters is by leasing out spare rooms, Airbnb said.<\/p>\n

There are currently 3.5 million rooms sitting empty across Australian households with more than one in 10 homes containing three or more spare rooms.<\/p>\n

READ MORE VIA NEWS.COM.AU<\/a><\/p>\n

MOST POPULAR IN NEW ZEALAND<\/span><\/h3>\n