Political Will Growing To Tackle Major Short Stay Problem

The AHA|SA’s calls for reforms to policies governing Airbnb has been taken up by a series of political figures.

Last December, AHA|SA President David Basheer called for “a bold approach” to fix the housing shortage caused by Airbnb and other short stay platforms.

“In South Australia, Airbnb removes 7,772 homes from the long-term rental market,” he said.

“Since its launch in Australia 12 years ago, Airbnb has grown at a phenomenal pace- with 8,836 listings in South Australia alone.

“But shared houses make up only 12% of all listings.

“There exists a rare opportunity for South Australia to take a bold approach and lead the nation, to quickly return those 7,772 homes back to renters.”

Overseas Action

New York has resolved that Airbnb hosts must register with the City and physically share the living quarters with the guests for the duration of their stay.

This has returned more than 18,000 dwellings for long term renters - in just a matter of months.

In Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto, that figure is 19,000 homes.

In Barcelona the Mayor has called for a total ban on Airbnb by 2029 to end his city’s housing nightmare, claiming: "We are confronting what we believe is Barcelona's biggest problem”.

In late January, The Advertiser reported: “The SA Council of Social Service and Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith are supporting a Greens SA move to take action after data results from January 21 showed that, in contrast, there were just over 2,500 long-term rentals available.”

“When parliament resumes next week, Greens housing spokesman Robert Simms will call for a vote on his motion to establish a select committee to look into the impact of short-stay accommodation on the rental crisis.

“He wants regulatory options or incentives explored to prompt more homeowners to turn holiday homes into long-term rentals.”

“Ms Lomax-Smith said that in June 2024, Adelaide City Council introduced a 20 per cent rate increase for shortstay accommodation rented out for 90 days a year – but this option needed to be explored further.

“’The problem is an equity issue – this is a statewide issue’,” she said.