Owner Report: May / June

The Holiday Rental Market:

As the temperature drops, so too does the level of enquiry. May was slightly stronger than last year with an average occupancy of 35%, attracting some good corporate enquiry for the quieter winter period. We are starting to see some enquiry come in for the December/January school holidays, with clear blue skies and no crowds to contend with, now is a great time to make use of your investment. Please call the office anytime on 02 4385 9564 and book some time out for yourself.

Holiday Rentals - Show Your Support:

HLOCC (Holiday Rental Organisation Central Coast) have successfully lobbied Gosford City Council and the Minister's office to ensure the Draft Local Environmental Plan 2009 (DLEP) section related to short term holiday rentals is released ASAP.

Gosford City Council has advised that the planning policy has been approved through the gateway process with no amendments. The policy will be on public display very shortly and once alerted, we will forward a standard submission letter to provide everyone with the opportunity to show their support. Keep your eye on your inbox as we really need to voice our support.

Exciting Features on Our Website www.accomholidays.com:
We are thrilled to announce that Accom Holidays is now ranking higher in searches, ensuring that we introduce as many new clients to Accom Holidays properties as possible.

Accom Holidays now features a News blog which features the following monthly articles 'Blink & You'll Miss It' featuring the best events on the Coast for the month, 'Spotlight On' interviews with local businesses and personalities and 'Three to See', showcasing three interesting must-visit places whilst on the Coast. We are always looking to interview people who love the Central Coast - if you are interested please let Tammerly know (tammerly.r@accomholidays.com) / 4385 9564).

Guests can now purchase gift vouchers online, view a digital copy of the Accom Holidays magazine, and even browse through suburb profiles which provide in-depth information on each area.  

E-Newsletter:
Our guest e-newsletter has been a successful addition to our business as it reaches all subscribers on a monthly basis. While we choose properties to feature each month, the properties which advertise reduced rates and special offers are the most popular. We currently require special offers for our August, September and October editions so please contact Tammerly (tammerly.r@accomholidays.com) / 4385 9564) and she will get back to you with suggestions.

Competitions:
Our Mother's Day Competition was a big success, with over 400 new Likes on Facebook. In July we will be running another e-newsletter competition (Xmas in July Dinner for  2 at the Letterbox Restaurant), so please keep an eye out and share it with friends.

Accom Holidays Magazine (2nd Edition): 
Tammerly is in the final stages of completing the owner property proofs so if you have not proofed yours, please do so ASAP.

Increase Your Property Enquiry and Booking Rate:
Although this is the quietest time of year in the holiday market, there are still ways to improve your enquiry and booking rates. Please contact Tammerly to discuss anything outlined below...

Stayz.com.au Most owners are signed up to Stayz which is fantastic, but did you know that you can Priority Place your listing in your suburb? Prices vary per suburb but Priority Placement guarantees that your property sits at the very top of your suburb search for a full month.

HomeAway.com.au Again, many owners are now signed up to HomeAway and are starting to see its benefits as HomeAway is now an industry leader in over 20 countries. We have secured a priority feature suburb listing with HomeAway which guarantees priority placement for one whole year for just $110+GST. This is a really cost effective method to guarantee the property is at the top of the search.

Owners who have been with Accom Holidays for 2.5+ years... you may not be signed up to an advertising package and therefore may not be featured on Stayz and HomeAway. Please chat to Tammerly to find out your options.

Swimming Pool Legislation:
From 29th April, all owners of backyard pools in NSW must register their swimming pool with the NSW Government in order to comply with recent amendments to the Swimming Pools Act 1992.

Following extensive consultation with councils, water safety advocates, pool owners, state agencies, and industry organisations, the NSW Government passed the Swimming Pools Amendment Act 2012 late last year. The Act is aimed at improving compliance with pool barrier requirements, and by so doing increasing the safety of backyard pools and reducing the number of child drownings.

The NSW Government has set up an online swimming pool register, and all pool owners must enter their swimming pool on this register. When registering, pool owners are required to indicate that to the best of their knowledge their swimming pool complies with the applicable safety standards.

Swimming pool owners must register their pool by 29 October 2013. If they don’t register by this date, they risk being fined up to $2200. The amendments also set out new requirements in relation to the sale and lease of properties with a swimming pool.

From 29 April 2014, where a property with a swimming pool is being sold, a valid certificate of compliance (or an occupation certificate issued within the last three years) must be annexed to the Contract for Sale. Failure to annex the certificate means that the purchaser may rescind the Contract at any time within 14 days of exchange.

In the case of a property for lease with a swimming pool, from 29 April 2014 there must be a valid certificate of compliance in place (or an occupation certificate issued within the last three years) at the time the Residential Tenancy Agreement is entered into and a copy of that certificate must be given to the tenant.

Swimming pools can be registered at the NSW Government’s Swimming Pool Register website. 

The Sales Market: The sales market on the Central Coast continues to show real strength fueled by Sydney's insurgence and strong market activity. Strong interest from Chinese investors is helping keep the heat in Sydney's property market. According to government figures, Chinese buyers poured 4 billion dollars in to the sector last year and with more than a million millionaires, a new generation of Chinese investors are making their presence felt in the Australian property market.

With very few properties now available, you might be interested to know what your property is worth in the current market. Brent is currently taking annual leave, returning Monday 15th July. 

To discuss your options, please contact Brent on his return:
brentpilkington@mcgrath.com.au | 0410 872 541 or leave a message with Tammerly 4385 9564.

Brent Pilkington
Accom Holidays Director / McGrath Lifestyle & Investment Property Sales Expert..

See you next month!

- The team at Accom Holidays