Presidents Report March 2009
Hello to All.
This is the first report for the newly formed HLO Central Coast inc. NSW, Australia
“Holiday Letting Organisation Central Coast”
We have had a very hectic time with meetings defending Short Term Lettings on the Central Coast.
1.Initial discussion with Mary Doherty NSW Business Chamber
2.Second meeting with Mary Doherty NSW Business Chamber
3.Speech at Terrigal Chamber of Commerce
4.Meeting with Byron Bay HLO in Byron Bay.
5.Speech at closed forum with Shadow Cabinet.
6.Meeting with Mayor
7.Meeting with John Parkes Head of compliance Gosford City Council
8.Up coming meeting with Mr Hartcher
At all these meetings we have discussed and pointed out the important contribution that short term lettings alone make to the local economy :- $360,000,000.00 dollars conservatively. We have found there are a minimum of 1500 short term lettings on the Central Coast.
We have discussed the DLEPS 2009 with all above groups and the threat they place on short term lettings and the local economy. We have raised the profile of our industry with all concerned.
The hard held belief with some sections of the community that short term letting is a prohibited use of land is a contentious one. We need to defend our position with positive solutions as a united group. Community Groups are developing sub committees to support the current DLEPS in there current form (we hope the DLEPS will be amended before they are released ). If they are amended we will have to consider them , if they are not amended we will have to reject them.
Council is interested in any positive solutions put forward but they have repeatedly stated that if we do not get numbers together we will be defeated by the organised community groups. Council is holding the contentious line that Holiday lettings are a prohibited use of land. We do not believe it is and have had legal advice in support of this view.
There has been a possibility that council is willing to vary the DLEPS if they receive a lot of submissions in support of short term rentals. We need to be organised now.
If Council finds support for short term lettings, HLO Central Coast will have a voice at the negotiating table.
If short term rentals are not banned they will be regulated. We need to push for self regulation through positive solutions , this is unavoidable. We do not want to go down the disastrous road of the B&B exercise. Most have disappeared!
A standard code of practice will have to be developed & A Security Hotline for all concerned, both proprietors and residents.
As short term rental providers we need your support now and into the future. This is going to be a long fight, which we can win as a united group .
We are a very important contributor to the local economy and our group is large and should have a legitimate voice with regulators.
Become a member today and support yourself
Don Kobeleff
President of HLO Central Coast inc.
Who are we?
An incorporated, not for profit body developed in response to notification by Gosford Council in 2008 that short term rental of holiday homes in non commercial areas is illegal.
Our aims:
*To give property owners a consolidated community approach to developing a code of conduct for owners and tenants in order to act responsibly towards the community and environment.
*To allow a consolidated approach to examining and supplying input to draft LEPS and any relevant legislation which could affect short term rental properties .
*To provide a credible forum for the evolution of relevant strategies such as the possibility of an accreditation system and a security patrol with "hotline" for neighbours and owners.
Code of Practice - Objectives
To set a standard of social behaviour for short term residential occupancy that is acceptable to the neighbourhood community.
Implement a management system to ensure this standard is maintained for holiday letting.
To encourage tenants to respect the rights of other residents to quiet enjoyment of their respective properties.
To enhance the reputation, standing and good name of The Central Coast as a desirable place to both live and visit.
To differentiate between responsible and irresponsible owners and managers.
To provide all property owners and managers with a means to self regulate.
HLO Code of Practice
Owners must actively implement and continuously comply with the HLO Code of Practice which encompasses:
1. Advertising and marketing
2. Pre-Occupancy Screening & Selection
3. Mandatory inclusions in the Agreement & Conditions of Letting
4. Security System
5. Public liability Insurance
6. Garbage Management
7. Provision of Agreed Minimum Parking Spaces
8. Minimum Fire safety recommendations
9. Maintaining neat and tidy premises
10. Displaying HLO Accreditation Sign
The challenges (mainly noise) in short term rental properties in and outside commercial zones do certainly require concerted action in a constructive and community spirited manner. It is a behavioural management issue, resolved through united, organisational strategies. These challenges are not always limited to those renting. Disturbance to the permanent communities is unacceptable above normal enjoyment levels bearing in mind that coastal areas have and always will be enjoyed by all citizens who go there to share the precious attractions they hold and which they appreciate as much as those who are fortunate enough to live in these areas. Historically, many of these areas began their lives as holiday destinations with holiday houses.
The ramifications of supposed illegal rental homes in non commercial areas for home owners, tenants and the community at large are HUGE. Gosford Council covers 1,029 square kilometres,from east to the Tasman Sea, south to the Hawkesbury River, west to the Judge Dowling Range, and north on a border through Kulnura, Lisarow and Forresters Beach. Beach area properties in particular are abundant and have been operating short term rentals in an Australian tradition for decades.
Act now - join us. Payment and/or donation is possible by direct transfer to the HLO Central Coast Bank Account or by cheque - details noted in the downloadable form at the top of the page.
Notices:
You are invited to submit relevant images illustrating attractions of your local area so the Central Coast as a whole can be represented. Please send to the address on the "contact" page. Your help is appreciated.
Suburbs in Gosford Shire:
Avoca Beach, Bar Point, Bensville, Blackwall, Booker Bay, Cheero Point, Copacabana, Daleys Point, Davistown, Empire Bay, Erina, Erina Heights, Ettalong Beach, Forresters Beach, Gosford, Green Point, Hardys Bay, Holgate, Horsfield Bay, Kariong, Killcare, Killcare Heights, Kincumber, Kincumber South, Koolewong, Lisarow, MacMasters Beach, Marlow, Matcham, Mooney Mooney, Narara, Niagara Park, North Avoca, North Gosford, Patonga, Pearl Beach, Phegans Bay, Point Clare, Point Frederick, Pretty Beach, St Huberts Island, Saratoga, Somersby, Springfield, Tascott, Terrigal, Umina, Wamberal, West Gosford, Woy Woy, Woy Woy Bay, Wyoming and Yattalunga.
Copyright: HLO Central Coast, NSW, Australia 2008
Last update:11 Dec 2009
HLO Central Coast
HOLIDAY LETTING
ORGANISATION
RELAX-ENJOY-RESPECT
*March 21, 2009. SMH Hornsby Shire Council proposal to end unregulated use of houses for short term rentals Berowa Waters, Brooklyn, Milsons Passage, Wisemans Ferry
*March 12, 2009. Financial Review. "Noise and Rubbish put visitors in bad odour. "holiday rentals cause angst for local residents"
*Jan 2009. Central Coast Express. "Credit crisis a boon for tourism."
*Jan 30, 2007 Daily Telegraph "Bad Guests Blacklisted"
*Aug 2006 FPIA "Inquiry into workforce challenges in the Australian tourism sector"
Busy Summer Season is coming !!!
Adopting a Security System is a sensible approach
Noisy Neighbour Hotline: huge success in Byron Bay. Up and running on The Central Coast .
HOW IT WORKS.
*
Register with HLO & The Hotline
Register with HLO & The Hotline *Neighbours are supplied with phone number of Security Company.
Neighbours are supplied with phone number of Security Company.*Legitimate call outs are paid for with bond of offending tenants.
Legitimate call outs are paid for with bond of offending tenants.*2 Strikes and You Are Out ( should be in your tenancy agreement as a warning)
2 Strikes and You Are Out ( should be in your tenancy agreement as a warning) Much better system than Council dealing with problem as they do not work on weekends anyway and the Police are too busy defending our Beautiful City from real criminals .
RE – Council Actions September 09 UPDATE
We are getting correspondence from landlords still receiving Prohibited Use of Land Notices from the Compliance Department of Gosford City Council, they include zones 2(a), 2 (b), 2 (f) & acreages across all suburbs..
As stated in the 11 page report on Short Term Lettings, Gosford Council will continue to deem Short Term Letting illegal until such time as a resolution is reached after DLEPS 2009 come out of State Planning Dept.and are then open for public display and adopted subsequent to Public Submissions.
SO BE READY TO WRITE YOUR SUBMISSIONS IN SUPPORT OF SHORT TERM LETTINGS.
PRESS ARTICLES IN FULL - PRESS ON LINK ABOVE
