Developer told to remove info
Christchurch’s most prolific residential property developer has been ordered to remove any reference about Airbnb from its promotional material.
Information packs on Williams Corporation developments, including one in Merivale Ln, until recently featured an Airbnb appraisal, alongside the projected income buyers could expect from renting the property out long-term.
The company has been granted resource consents for its housing developments under residential zoning rules, but opponents have argued the complexes are commercial operations targeted for Airbnb use.
Property owners in most residential zones need a resource consent to rent out their entire properties as short-term accommodation.
Merivale Ln residents, who oppose the development of an 18-unit, two-storey complex on their street, took issue with a Williams Corporation Airbnb appraisal that stated
‘‘the owner may be subject to obtaining resource consents although the likelihood of the council enforcing this is low at this stage’’.
In approving the resource consent for Merivale Ln, commissioner Tony HughesJohnson said the appraisal documents have given rise to real concerns from residents that the units would be used illegally for Airbnb purposes.
He said the city council believed any references to Airbnb activities in the information packs would be likely to ‘‘mislead potential purchasers’’ and should be removed immediately.
In a letter to Williams Corporation, council compliance officer Craig Jorgensen said the council actively investigated complaints received about non-compliant guest accommodation and it was not correct to say enforcement was unlikely.
Williams Corporation managing director Matthew Horncastle said the company had removed all references to Airbnb in its promotional material. ‘‘It just became too political.’’
He said he believed people should be free to use their asset as they choose. ‘‘I can not believe as a country we are smacking the mum and dad investors so Mr International Hotel Owner can take another couple of million dollars a year out of the country.’’
Horncastle said 13 of the units at Merivale Ln had sold, and he expected to start building on August 1.
However, the Merivale Neighbours Association, led by Karl Smith, has requested the council initiate a full judicial review of the resource consent decision.
He said the council and commissioner had misinterpreted the District Plan by stating there was no maximum limit on the number of homes allowed in a medium density section.
He argued the plan does provide a maximum, which is well below the number Williams Corporation was planning to build at Merivale Ln.
‘‘This has caused a hell of a lot of grief across communities and neighbourhoods.’’
When asked why the residents were not launching a judicial review themselves, Smith said it should not be left up to residents. ‘‘It’s [the council’s] own misinterpretation of their own plan. They should do the work. It’s their role. It should not be up to the residents and people like myself to do this work. He believed the development had 55 breaches of the District Plan.
Horncastle said the residents calling for a judicial review had ‘‘no leg to stand on’’.
Karl Smith Merivale Neighbours Association
‘‘This has caused a hell of a lot of grief . . .