Overcrowding of private holiday home rentals will be a special focus of council compliance efforts. This rental property was sleeping up to 26 people.

MEDIA RELEASE
Ruapehu District Council

Date: Thursday 23 May 2013

Council Committed to Ensuring Holiday Rental Properties Regulation Compliant

Ruapehu bach owners renting their properties on a regular basis or to large groups of people can expect checks from council to ensure they are regulation compliant.

Commercial accommodation providers were again very vocal in their submissions to the recent Exceptions Annual Plan 2013-14 consultation on private holiday homes, homestays, B&B’s, etc that are rented out but are not classed as ‘commercial’ operators undermining their business.

Ruapehu District Council (RDC) Chief Executive, Peter Till, said that motels and other commercial accommodation providers are a critical part of Ruapehu’s tourism economy and council has put a lot of work into understanding the issues they are raising and how we can realistically respond.

“Holiday home owners who are also a key part of the visitor industry have every right to rent their property out and their ability to do so has been greatly enhanced via technology and ‘book a bach’ websites,” he said.

“Unfortunately the administrative issues around being able to clearly differentiate private holiday home usage from rented holiday home commercial usage are very problematic.”

Mr Till said that council had rejected the idea of making changes to the way private holiday homes are rated during deliberations on last year’s Long Term Plan 2012-22 for this reason.

“The area council feels it can make a realistic and effective difference is in ensuring that rented private holiday homes are adhering to all the fire, emergency, parking and other regulations required of them.”

“Council has committed to doing everything within its power to ensuring that rented private holiday homes are regulation compliant,” he said.

“We will be writing to all non-resident property owners reminding them of their responsibilities to meet health and safety and other regulations if they rent their properties out and advising them that council compliance staff will be actively enforcing these regulations.”

Mr Till noted that without adding to compliance staff numbers and its resulting impact on rate levels council relies to some degree on the public to inform us of possible violations.

“If residents are concerned about issues with rented properties such as overcrowding or parking, etc they should call their local council office and we will investigate.”

“Council is not in a position however to change emerging trends and technology that has helped drive the development of the web based ‘book a bach’ market.”

Mr Till added that it has to be recognised that the success of the Ruapehu tourism townships and the associated ski areas, cycle trails, bars and restaurants, rental shops and retailers, etc is dependent on having a healthy mix of accommodation options readily available and people using them.”

“The more people coming into Ruapehu encourages further investment which benefits everybody.”

PETER TILL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE

ENDS

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