Will Airbnb stymie city's rebuild aims?
Concern has been raised that the Christchurch inner-city rebuild could be affected by an Airbnb problem seen in Queenstown and many major tourist cities overseas, including Barcelona.
The rebuild blueprint provides for 20,000 new residents in the inner city, in a mix of apartments and townhouses. But some locals fear the properties will be snapped up by Airbnb operators who stand to make more money renting their houses out to visitors, rather than long-term tenants, effectively shutting out the locals.
They also fear property owners could ‘‘land bank’’ their property, leaving homes empty, which has also happened overseas.
The issue has been raised again following a story in the The Press on an Airbnb operator who was fined for operating her business without a resource consent.
Christchurch resident Scott Menzies, a long-time commentator on urban design, has raised the issue with the Christchurch City Council and property developers such as Williams Corporation, which is advertising inner-city (Four Avenues) rebuilds as perfect for ‘‘Airbnb investment’’.
‘‘Cities such as New York, London and Barcelona, facing chronic affordable housing shortages, have cracked down on Airbnb-type operations, understanding that it means local residents are pushed out of using them as homes in their own city – they understand that it destroys neighbourhoods and stifles community spirit,’’ said Menzies. ‘‘Surely Christchurch residents should be the ones who live in the East Frame and Four Avenues and fulfil the City Council’s and Otakaro’s vision of vibrant neighbourhoods in the heart of the city?’’
A major feature of the rebuilt blueprint was the move to consolidate commercial buildings within a smaller zone, to free up innercity land for the residential developments that would ‘‘enhance and enliven’’ the city.
Regenerate Christchurch chief executive Ivan Iafeta said, ‘‘We need to consider the impact of this new technology, but Christchurch has a different property market to Queenstown, with a good supply of long-term rentals balanced with visitor accommodation and owneroccupied properties.
‘‘To ensure Christchurch’s continued success in its regeneration, it is important the supply of residential housing in the central city continues to increase as planned.’’
Iafeta said Christchurch needs a vibrant city centre that offers a great experience for everyone. ‘‘We welcome visitors and appreciate the need for a dynamic mix of accommodation in the city centre that caters for all markets – visitors, renters and property owners.’’
Matthew Horncastle of Williams Corporation said Airbnb was a ‘‘really positive thing’’ for Christchurch. ‘‘It has become very, very hard to build hotels and motels in the post-earthquake environment – we have a fourstorey height limit (in the mixed zone) to accommodate, which is limiting. If we didn’t have Airbnb, where would the tourists go?’’
He also went so far as to say, ‘‘If we didn’t have Airbnb these houses might not be built. Christchurch people get a real benefit – more tourists mean more money. If there’s a problem finding enough houses for local people, then we need to take stock and build double the amount we build, rather than stopping Airbnb operations.
‘‘I think it’s very dangerous when we start controlling the private sector.’’
Horncastle said the company advertised to all parts of the market. ‘‘If someone wants to plan for their retirement and get ahead in life we are 100 per cent behind them ...’’