In response to increasing resident concerns, Labor is proposing new legislation to address party houses.
According to industry estimates from the Tourism Accommodation Association, the growth of short-term holiday rentals in South Australia has grown by more than 120% in the past 14 months, with more than 5,800 listings across the State.
However, there has been increasing media reports of some of the listed properties being used as party-houses to host out-of-control parties that disrupt entire neighbourhoods.
Common issues reported include:
- Abusive and drunken behaviour on the streets
- Parties with 100+ people attending on a regular basis
- Noise and littering issues
- Allegations of illegal activities and substance abuse
Residents that live next to party houses have had repeated handballing of the issue between SAPOL and local government.
It has forced some to sell their houses at significant losses or stop having relatives visiting them.
Similar to what is proposed in other States, the proposed legislation aims to introduce:
- A state-wide mandatory registration system of all listed short-term holiday rentals
- An industry Code of Conduct
- Penalties for failure to adhere to the code or register a property
This is the Bill that was introduced into the House of Assembly on 9 June 2021. Click here to view the introduced Bill.
To view our FAQs regarding the Bill, click here.
The overwhelming majority of people that list their properties are doing the right thing. But there are many residents out there that feel powerless if they live next to a party house.
I have heard shocking stories from people from all over Adelaide that have literally lost sleep over this issue.
There is a clear gap in our legislation to work with this disruptive part of the tourism industry.
We need to protect the people that do the right thing, but also penalise those that have no regard for the community around them.
Hon Zoe Bettison MP
Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
Read the articles:
- Holiday booking giant backs party house crackdown, Adelaide Advertiser (2019)
- Party's over: Host of trouble over 'homes for hire' boom, Adelaide Advertiser (2019)
- Trouble in Paradise as neighbour tempers fray, Adelaide Advertiser (2019)
- State tourism endorses notorious party house, Adelaide Advertiser (2019)
- Adelaide CBD residents facing abuse, threats and vandalism from short-term renters, council hears, ABC (2017)
- The sex offender and his $2k a night Moana party house, Sunday Mail Adelaide (2017)
- Windows Smashed, Doors Torn Off During Party At Rental Home, 10 daily (2019)
- Airbnb bans ‘party houses’ after five killed in US shooting, news.com.au (2019)
- Short-term holiday rentals: Stayz wants QLD Government to regulate industry, Gold Coast Bulletin (2019)
- NSW still without Airbnb rules, one year after plan was announced, domain.com.au (2019)
- AirBnB Gold Coast: Complaints triple as Gold Coast AirBnBs being used as venues for ‘wild drug parties’, Gold Coast Bulletin (2019)
- Perth Airbnb trashed by hundreds of young partygoers, riot squad called, 9NEWS (2019)
- Victoria to ban short-stay hosts and fine guests under 'unruly party' laws, The Guardian (2018)
- Outrage at the rise of AirBnB ‘party houses’, The New Daily (2017)
- Airbnb is 'gutting our community', says mayor of holiday hotspot Byron Bay, The Sydney Morning Herald (2018)
- Residents powerless to stop Airbnb ‘party houses’, news.com.au (2017)
