Tasmania is one of several states to have implemented new laws to formally define the concept of home-sharing.
Tasmania has implemented new laws regulating the short-stay online hotel market.

Home-sharing platform Airbnb has offered its support to the Tasmanian government as it implements its newly-passed Short Stay Accommodation (SSA) Act 2019, which came into effect on 4 June 2019.

The global home rentals giant said it was in favour of the new laws and its objectives of strengthening existing rules regarding home-sharing and giving policymakers the information needed to properly regulate the practice.

According to the Tasmanian Government’s Department of Justice, the SSA Act aims to deliver a data-sharing partnership with booking platforms offering accommodation in Tasmania to provide a clearer picture of how housing is used in this way and the extent to which it affects housing affordability and availability.

The SSA Act says it does not apply to hotels, motels or caravan parks but only on housing in seven residential zones.

The new law requires owners to provide information to a booking platform including an appropriate and valid planning permit number which must be obtained prior to listing; advice that it otherwise does not require a planning permit if true; the address and how many bedrooms are available for rent; whether the premises comprises the primary place of residence for the owner and that it has existing use rights as per the Tasmanian Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993.

Data obtained from the new law will be used, according to the government, will be used to enforce compliance with planning and building requirements as well as analysed to determine policies on housing and its use for short-stay requirements and all other future requirements as needed by regulation.