Public invited to comment on proposed short-term rental regulations

The Department of Tourism has invited public comment on a proposed Code of Good Practice for Short-Term Rentals, which could introduce mandatory regulations across the sector.
The proposed code may allow municipalities to reclassify residential properties as commercial, potentially increasing rates and taxes. It also includes provisions requiring rental platforms to share user data, raising privacy concerns among hosts and guests.
The public has 60 days to submit comments.
DearSouthAfrica founder Rob Hutchinson says, “It’s quite a disturbing thing that the department has put out there. What they’re trying to do is regulate the entire industry, which so far has gone unchecked – and in terms of quality standards and so on. The department is trying to bring it up into a more professional presentation, but in doing so it does seem to encroach on a few rights of our people, especially the privacy of guests.”
 
www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/public-invited-to-comment-on-proposed-short-term-rental-regulations/