A New South Wales council has implored thousands of holiday-home owners to rent out their vacant properties as Australia's housing crisis deepens. The Eurobodalla Shire Council, on the state's south coast, estimates around 8,000 homes sit empty for much of the year while their owners live elsewhere.
Mayor Mathew Hatcher has written to the non-resident rate payers—including 4,000 from Sydney and 3,500 from Canberra—asking them to lease out their second homes for one to two years. He described the situation as 'a social disaster of epic proportions' and 'a pitch for dignity and humanity'.
The plea comes as more than 50 people are living in tents and caravans at a campground near Moruya, struggling to find affordable rental accommodation. A similar appeal after the 2020 Black Summer bushfires led to over 80 holiday properties being put up for rent.
Mayor Hatcher said he hopes to avoid introducing regulations on short-term stays, as seen in Byron Bay, because tourism is vital for the local economy. However, some businesses cannot find staff due to the lack of housing.
Real estate agent Samantha Sheather noted that permanent tenants would offer better business sense for landlords, but many are hesitant due to pandemic-era eviction rules. Property expert Michael Matusik called for tax measures to incentivise or penalise owners to release vacant homes.
