Short stay accommodation report reflects local government asks
Led by a Select Committee of the South Australian Legislative Council, the inquiry looked at the role of short stay accommodation in the state, its impact and any potential changes needed.
Following statewide consultation, the Committee has now released its final report, which details 13 findings and seven recommendations aimed at guiding future regulations.
Our submission
LGA played a constructive role in shaping the inquiry’s direction.
Drawing on extensive consultation with member councils and a review of regulatory models across the country, our submission called for a balanced, evidence-based approach to managing the sector’s influence on housing affordability, local economies and council operations.
LGA acknowledges and appreciates the valuable contributions from councils in shaping the Committee report, both through direct input to the Committee and during our consultation process.
While councils consistently reported a shortage of long-term rentals and declining affordability, LGA emphasised that the full effects of short stay accommodation on communities and housing markets are not yet fully understood.
Key recommendations
Several of LGA’s recommendations, put forward in our submission, were adopted in the Committee’s final report.
This is a great win for councils and LGA commends the Committee for considering and supporting local government’s input.
Some of the key recommendations aligning with our submission include:
- recognition of the lack of suitable data on both long-term rentals and short-stay accommodation
- the need to establish a statewide registration scheme with mandatory data reporting, with data to be shared with councils to support informed planning decisions and rating practices
- the need to develop of a code of conduct and minimum safety standards
- support for local government resourcing to manage compliance and enforcement
- a commitment to consult with stakeholders, including councils, in designing the regulatory framework
- acknowledgement of the operational challenges faced by councils, particularly around waste management.
LGA supports the creation of a thoughtful and balanced regulatory framework for short stay accommodation in South Australia that safeguards community character and local interests, while supporting the growth and sustainability of the tourism sector.
Find out more
For further information about the Select Committee’s inquiry into South Australia’s short stay accommodation sector, please contact the Committee Secretary on (08) 8237 9417 or scshortstay@parliament.sa.gov.au