Airbnb explosion

But there are two sides to this coin

INNER suburbs surrounding Hobart’s CBD and North Hobart are the most popular locations for self-contained visitor accommodation as Airbnb continues to boom, new data shows.

After a request from Hobart City Council aldermen in June, council staff have prepared a map showing the location of approvals for self-contained visitor accommodation over the past few years in the city.

The map — prepared for Monday’s city planning committee meeting— shows the highest concentrations of approvals for visitor accommo dation have been in the inner suburbs surrounding the CBD and North Hobart.

As of June, there was 885 Airbnb listings in greater Hobart.

But with the State Government deregulating the sector from July 1, Hobart alderman and city planning committee member Helen Burnet said the number was bound to increase.

“After the July 1 changes, the council doesn’t have to approve certain visitor sharing accommodation places, so you’d imagine even more have popped up or will pop up now,” Ald Burnett said.

“I’ve just found out there’s a Airbnb place next to me. As a neighbour, you are the last to find out where they are now.”

Tapping into the visitor accommodation boom at North Hobart is Emma Beltz who, after listing a West Hobart property on Airbnb last year, has recently opened one in George St for business.

With a target market of families — and even providing highchairs for guests with young children — Mrs Beltz said she had been thrilled with the level of demand for her North Hobart venture.

“We did some renovations on it and, once we put the pictures up, we got some really strong interest,” she said.

“We are really busy in September and it’s looking like it will continue from then, which is great.

“For young families, sometimes a hotel just isn’t that suitable for them and that’s where Airbnb can come in and help them be comfortable while seeing Hobart.” But while visitor accommodation operators are basking in the increasing appeal, Tenants’ Union of Tasmania spokesman Ben Bartl said it was doing a great deal of harm to the city.

“We are very concerned at that data,” Mr Bartl said.

“Tenants are being driven from the inner-city. These are places where students want to live to be close to the uni, and workers so they can be closer to their offices, and they can’t.

“Hobart has a real renting problem at the moment and people are finding it hard to find a place to rent.”