Badly behaved guests and short-stay apartment owners can now be hit with fines of up to $1,100 for breaches of conduct standards, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
New laws coming into effect today will help stop out-of-control parties in apartment buildings used for short-stay accommodation, strengthening protections for Victorian residents.
Under the reforms to the Owners Corporations Act 2006 – which passed Parliament last year – owners corporations and residents will be able to take action against short-stay apartment owners and their guests.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal will have new powers to:
- Award compensation of up to $2,000 to affected residents for loss of amenity
- Impose fines of up to $1,100 for breaches of the prescribed conduct standards
- Prohibit apartments from being rented out for short-stay accommodation if there have been at least three breaches within 24 months.
Short-stay apartment owners and their guests will be jointly and individually liable for any compensation, fines and awards for damage to common property.
Owners corporations can issue breach notices if guests:
- Create unreasonable or excessive noise
- Interfere with residents' enjoyment of their unit or common property
- Cause health and safety hazards
- Obstruct common property
- Substantially damage a property or common area in the building.
Consumer Affairs Victoria's conciliation powers have also been extended to include all parties who may be involved in a short-stay accommodation dispute, including providers and building residents.
As noted by Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz
"Residents living in apartments next to short-stay accommodation shouldn't have to put up with rowdy parties and out-of-control guests – and that's what these tough new laws deliver."
"We're also making sure apartment owners who provide short-stay accommodation remember their responsibilities when their guests play up."
