Despite urging owners toidentify themselves if their properties met the criteria for the new rates category – a house or unit listed for rent for more than 60 days in a year – most were located via a big-data tech platform the councilsigned up for in October.
Of the 459 properties now under the Transitory Accommodation category,394 were identified by the new platform,61 from owners who came forward,and justfour from complaints.
Those under the new category were warned they would face 50 per cent higher rates,which Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said at the time would be about $600 a year more than a property in the minimum rate category.
The council is now expecting about $440,000 in extra annual rates revenue,its total rates and utilities income expected to pass $1.3 billion this financial year.
Council finance committee chair Fiona Cunningham said another reason for the push was to ensure owners who were using their private homes as “pseudo hotels” paid their fair share.
“We said from the beginning that this new approach will take time to be fully implemented and that we’d be happy if this new rating category didn’t raise a single dollar,” she added.