As a professional short-term, holiday rental management business, Kahuana Pty Ltd abides by all laws, legislations and codes affecting the industry.
With the mandatory Code of Conduct for the Short-Term-Rental Industry (STRA) introduced on 18 December 2020, short-term rental accommodation hosts, guests, letting agents and online booking platform operators are now subject to a new regulatory framework.
Here you will find all relevant information that we are required to make available to you for you to review and to understand your rights and responsibilities under the Code of Conduct.
We look forward to working together with you to help create a safe and respectful holiday industry with even greater experiences.
Guests
Short-term rental guests must not damage the premises or common property or make noise that unreasonably disrupts neighbours. Guests are also obliged to obey behaviour standards detailed in the Code. If guests fail to meet the standards in the Code, they may be subject to a “strike”. A strike is a record of a contravention of the code made against a host, guest, or premises with respect to a host and identified as a strike. If the conduct of the guest warrants it, they maybe placed on the exclusions register.
Hosts
There are also several new regulations for short-term rental hosts under the Code. Insurance cover must now include liability for third-party injuries and death and neighbours must have the ability to contact the host or managing agent about concerns relating to the property between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm seven days a week. As far as guest behaviour is concerned, the host must take reasonable steps to ensure their guests understand the behaviour standards of the Code and make a copy of the Code available to them. All short-term rental properties must be registered on a state-wide premises register.
Agents & Online Booking Providers
A letting agent or online booking provider must tell hosts and guests using their service about the Code. They must also let them know how to lodge a complaint under the Code and communicate any complaint made against them for behaviour that may contravene the Code. Agents and booking providers furthermore must record themselves and the properties for which they are responsible on the STRA register and they must not advertise or offer the property for rent if the host or the property are listed on the exclusions register. It is also critical that a premises is not rented out to a guest who is listed on the exclusions register.
Complaints
If you believe that the code has been breached by any participant, a formal complaint must be lodged with NSW Fair Trading.
In some cases, the Commissioner may request the complaint first be made to another body, if this is appropriate, such as the police or local council.
The code does not change existing complaint handling processes for NSW Police and local councils.
Penalties
Potential penalties for breaches of the NSW Fair Trading Code of Conduct can include:
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Kahuana acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
