Rental companies want change

Holiday home rental companies have requested less severe restrictions on  the number of nights per year properties can be used as visitor accommodation.

In submissions to a hearing panel considering the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s proposed district plan this week, Touch of Spice, MajorDomo Ltd and NZ Sotheby’s Luxury Rental Homes Ltd called for an extension to the proposed 28-day limit. They said the limit should be increased to 120 nights per year for residential visitor accommodation (RVA) before resource consent was needed.

In her evidence to the panel, Major Domo owner and director Lisa Hayden said the council’s proposed limit was "uneconomic for both the homeowners and us as a business".

Major Domo  manages 33 properties and Touch of Spice looks after 45. Short-term rental costs range from $800 per night to $40,000 per night.  The companies have spent a combined total of  $40,000 plus on the submissions process.

Ms Hayden said the proposals  apparently addressed a lack of affordable full-time rental accommodation for workers and the impact of short-term rentals on the community, such as parking and noise.

"Stopping what we are doing as businesses will not solve the above issues."

In his evidence, independent planning consultant Ben Farrell said the council’s analysis showed a "lack of understanding of the RVA market".

Council officers recommended  a 42-day limit should be adopted. 

- Joshua Walton

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