Airbnb hits back on restrictions

Airbnb claims most New Zealanders back home sharing, despite calls for restrictions amid pressure on tourist hotspots.

A survey commissioned by the company found 78 per cent of respondents believed the Government should encourage home sharing to help the tourism industry, more than half were likely to use it themselves on their own travels, and 31 per cent would welcome sharing their own home in the future.

But businesses and local councils have taken a dimmer view of the phenomenon.

Queenstown Lakes District Council has proposed restrictions on the shortterm rentals of houses in low- and medium-density residential zones to 28 days a year, with no more than three separate lets – one-third of the current limit.

But these short-term rentals tend to be the big money-maker for Airbnb hosts.

One user of the home-sharing website has reported making the same income from 60 short-stay nights to earn as much rent as a full-time tenancy.

There were 2000 Airbnb properties listed last year in Queenstown and the average Airbnb host in New Zealand earned $4700 a year. About 5000 properties were let as the entire home via online businesses such as Airbnb, Bookabach and Holiday Houses.

An estimated 14 per cent of housing stock in the tourist hotspot is now being used for visitor accommodation.

Hospitality workers have complained about the lack of availability of affordable rental housing for both local residents and incoming workers in areas such as Rotorua, Nelson, Golden Bay and the Coromandel.

Airbnb’s head of public policy for Australia and New Zealand, Brent Thomas, said the results of the survey revealed a significant shift in the way Kiwis travelled and used their homes.

‘‘People recognise home-sharing is strengthening their local community and growing the economy,’’ he said. ‘‘They don’t want more red tape in their lives or to have their rights infringed.’’

Thomas said the company looked forward to working with the Government and local councils for ‘‘fair, progressive rules for home sharing’’.

PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER MICHEL Queenstown is taking action to limit the number of short-term stays Airbnb hosts can rent their property to three a year and 28 days total.