Chances are you have heard of Airbnb, the
online property letting service connecting
those who have spare rooms, houses or other
spaces with guests looking for a place to stay.
But what is the impact of Airbnb on strata
units?
Can bodies corporate regulate the use of Airbnb?
I’m John Gallagher from Argon Law and I’m going to discuss the impact of Airbnb on bodies corporate.
Airbnb is growing rapidly in Australia.
The appeal for property owners is that they
can rent out their dwelling without the need
for agents, tenancy agreements or licences.
On the other hand, tenants are also utilising
Airbnb to supplement their income, letting
out spare rooms and even couches.
Private, short-term letting can have a negative
impact on bodies corporate.
Impacts can include increased noise, illegal
parking, overuse of shared facilities such
as pools and gyms, nuisance, damage to common
property and safety and security issues.
So, what can bodies corporate do to regulate
the use of Airbnb by owners and by tenants?
Unfortunately, a body corporate does not have
much ammunition to regulate against the use
of lots for private short-term letting.
A body corporate can respond to some extent
by adopting by-laws about the use of common
property that are enforceable against owners
and occupiers of the building.
If you are an owner of a unit, and concerned about tenants utilizing Airbnb,
you should
consider inserting specific conditions in
your tenancy agreements prohibiting subletting.
If you would like more information or to discuss
the impacts Airbnb is having on your strata
development and how by-laws may assist you,
please visit our website or give us a call.
