Bass Coast Shire Council will introduce a new registration process and fee structure for short stay rental accommodation across the municipality to better regulate the sector in line with local laws.
Council agreed to set a registration fee for short stay rental accommodation to control use of the properties under the Bass Coast Council's Local Law No 1, Neighbourhood Amenity.
Short stay accommodation owners will be able to register their homes, from January 2023, with an annual flat fee of $300(to be adjusted in line with future CPI) coming into effect from July 1, 2023.
The council is in the process of establishing an online registration system, and homeowners will be required to register their accommodation by June 30, 2023. Further information in relation to the registration process will be communicated in early 2023.
Councillor Leticia Laing who moved the motion at yesterday's Delegated Committee meeting said the new fee and registration system ensured everyone will be made aware of their responsibilities.
"Short stay rental accommodation is vital for our local economy and growing tourism sector," Cr Laing said.
"This new process will help regulate and control the use of these rental properties and ensure there is an appropriate standard of management and oversight.
"The fee supports council having full cost recovery to regulate this industry. This includes greater resourcing for compliance, the development of waste management plans for provider homes and greater ability to investigate complaints."
The fee was set yesterday during a delegation committee as the number of councillors who declared a conflict of interest on the matter made council unable to reach quorum in an ordinary council meeting.
Until recently, short stay rental accommodation was regulated under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act (PHWA) 2008, but under the newly adopted local law, Council is required to register properties, manage the registration fee structure, and enforce amenity issues.
The new fee structure does not extend to bed and breakfast properties which fall under prescribed accommodation under the PHWA and generally serve food, have an owner or manager live on-site, and do not offer exclusive use of the property.
In Bass Coast, short stay operators are those who rent out properties no more than 30 consecutive days to another person
