Booking site, council seek common ground

AIRBNB has agreed to release data to the Hobart City Council so it can better understand the effect short-stay accommodation is having on the housing market.

Airbnb has consistently denied it is responsible for the rental and housing crisis gripping Tasmania.

Airbnb Australia and New Zealand head of public policy Brent Thomas met with several Hobart alderman and councillors on Wednesday.

Councillor Holly Ewin said at the meeting, Mr Thomas agreed to release information on the numbers of Airbnb properties in Hobart and how often they were being filled.

“This is more about the numbers and for us to know the extent of the problem,” she said.

“They said verbally they will cobble something together for us.

“This is just one of the things the council can have some oversight on and look at managing as opposed to things like negative gearing and building social housing.”

Alderman Simon Behrakis, who also attended the meeting, said Airbnb argued that data on Airbnb accommodation figures that was provided by inside airbnb and the University of Tasmania was inaccurate.

Ald Behrakis said Airbnb appeared supportive of legislation being put forward by the State Government for data sharing.

The state parliament is currently considering new laws that would force short-stay accommodation platforms such as Airbnb and HomeAway to share information about their property before it is listed on a booking platform.

The planned changes, which were introduced to parliament last year, would see booking platforms fined $15,900 for failing to receive or display relevant information on listings.

Hosts could also be hit with a $7950 penalty for failing to provide information or supplying false or misleading information to booking platforms.

The Short Stay Accommodation Bill would require hosts to supply booking websites with certain information, including the planning permit number for the property.

Booking platforms would then be required to display permit numbers on every listing and provide them to the Building Control director at the end of each financial quarter.

Airbnb has been contacted for comment.