Short term rentals a ‘rising issue’ in Australia

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UNSW City Futures Research Centre Senior Fellow Chris Martin says short-term rentals are a “rising issue” in some markets in Australia. Mr Martin’s comments come after Victoria became the first state in Australia to tax people who operate an Airbnb – the tax will come in the form of a 7.5 per cent levy on short-stay accommodations. “There are some places throughout Australia where you find a very large part of the housing stock has been used and is being used quite intensively for short stay accommodation – and has been for quite some time,” Mr Martin told Sky News Australia. “We’ve been very permissive of short-stay accommodation – using our housing stock for tourism purposes.” “This move by the Victorian government is a step towards trying to make some of those operations that they might be a bit marginal ... pushing the needle back towards long-term rental accommodation.” Mr Martin said the move by the Victorian government is a step towards “pushing the needle back towards long-term rental accommodation”.