That’s the question Bowral short-term accommodation host Louise Fowler has about the state government’s new short-term letting reforms. The new reform will allow short-term letting for 365 days a year when the host is present, and 180 days when the host is not present.

The reform will also address party houses through a mandatory code of conduct, and will include a new dispute resolution process to resolve complaints. 

NSW Fair Trading will have power to police online platforms and letting agents.

Ms Fowler, who has her property booked for about 40 weeks of the year, said she was unsure how enforceable or necessary the rules were.

“It’s all very well to set these rules, but I’m intrigued to see how they will police it,” she said. “They say it’s ‘two strikes and you’re out’. There’s always been a platform to leave a review.”

The aim of the reform is to address noise levels, disruptive guests and effects on shared neighbourhood amenities.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said councils outside of Greater Sydney had the power to decide if permitting short-term holiday letting for the entire year was acceptable for their communities. 

HomeAway (formerly Stayz) corporate affairs director Eacham Curry said the company intended to work with Wingecarribee Shire Council to ensure short-term rental accommodation remained an important part of the tourism mix. “We will be making the case to all local councils outside of Sydney that they grasp the opportunity of the sector and not set an arbitrary cap on short-term rental accommodation.”