After a string of wild parties gone wrong, the Victorian state government has introduced short-term letting legislation in an effort to crack down on unruly guests and irresponsible hosts. The new legislation places the responsibility of short-term guests behaviour on property owners. The Owners Corporations Amendment (Short-stay Accommodation) Act 2018, now provides avenues for owners within an owners corporation to make a complaint about short-term letting guests staying in another lot.

Complaints can be made if guests are:

• Making excessive amounts of noise;
• Interfering with owners or guests of other lots;
• Creating hazards to health and safety in common areas;
• Preventing owners or other guests of owners access to common areas; and
• Damaging any aspect of the apartment complex.

Complaints need to be initially raised in writing to the owners corporation and then collectively the owners corporation need to decide if they are going to inform the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) of the violation. The VCAT can then take action including:

• Preventing the owner of an apartment short-term letting out their property if three different complaints are made within a 24-month period;
• Charging the owner of the apartment a loss of amenity compensation order, which can be up to $2,000 per complaint.

For more information about the ruling contact your owners corporation manager.