If you are running a short-term rental, or planning to start one in the Overstrand area, this is important.

Government has published a new set of guidelines for short-term rentals. These are not strict laws yet, but they give a clear direction on how the industry should operate going forward.

It’s important that local hosts and operators read through the document now and give input and raise concerns or suggest improvements, so that the final version works in practice.

Overall, it’s about running short-term rentals in a way that is fair, safe and respectful to the area.

This applies to:

• Airbnb and similar hosts
• Holiday rental owners
• Property managers
• Anyone thinking of entering the short-term rental space

What the guidelines cover (in simple terms):

1. How hosts should manage their properties responsibly
2. What is expected from guests
3. Basic health and safety requirements
4. Working with neighbours and communities
5. The role of booking platforms

Deadline

Please take a bit of time to read through the guidelines and share your input before the deadline.

Even if the document is short, it is important. This is the starting point for how short-term rentals will be managed going forward.

All comments must be submitted by 11 May.

Let’s make sure Overstrand’s voice is part of the process.

View the Code of Good Practice for Short‑Term Rentals under the “Documents Open for Comment” tab on the Overstrand Municipality website.

You can access the document directly here:

https://www.overstrand.gov.za/~documents/documents-open-for-public-comment/code-of-good-practice-tourism/code-of-good-practice-for-short-term-rentalspdf/?layout=file