Deep divide on short-term rentals

Airbnb-style providers say they play a vital role in Christchurch tourism, yet the hospitality industry is adamant short-term rentals are killing the motel sector.

But there is one aspect they do all agree on: the need for Government regulation of the short-term accommodation sector.

The Christchurch City Council is looking at how it can regulate the industry and has asked for feedback on options that range from allowing whole home listings everywhere to imposing restrictions in some areas. Limiting listing durations is another option.

More than 425 people and organisations lodged submissions.

Airbnb and Bookabach are both advocating for the council to remove all restrictions on shortterm accommodation and treat it as a residential activity.

In its submission, Airbnb said the council needed to make the rules ‘‘more modern, clear and fitfor-purpose’’.

Airbnb homes had hosted about

254,000 guests in the past year and they spent $53 million, supported

360 jobs and contributed $36m to the gross regional product, it said.

Bookabach said short-term accommodation allowed visitors to stay in areas not serviced by motels and spend money at a more diverse range of local businesses.

Hospitality New Zealand’s submission said the Christchurch commercial accommodation sector was in crisis and the effects of competing against an unregulated home-share industry, coupled with the impact of coronavirus, could spell the end for smaller-scale, family-owned operations.

Under the District Plan, owners in most residential zones need a resource consent to rent out their entire properties as short-term accommodation, but the council says it lacks the resources to monitor and enforce the law.

Hospitality NZ, which has 300 members in Christchurch, said the council could easily and quickly identify the properties by using geospatial technology.

Data provided by HNZ showed there were 2112 short-term accommodation listings in a residential zone in Christchurch and they generated $28m in revenue for 1502 operators.

Despite their differing views, all three organisations want the Government to take the lead on the issue and regulate the industry nationally.