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Displaying the 5 latest comments.
Submitted | first-name | support | concern | top-concern | message |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026-09-01 04:49:09 +02:00 | EM | No I do not | All of the above | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | |
2026-08-31 22:06:17 +02:00 | John | No I do not | All of the above | Fair Competition: Aligning Dedicated Commercial Lets with Hotels | |
2026-08-31 15:18:32 +02:00 | Nicola | No I do not | All of the above | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | |
2026-08-31 12:34:35 +02:00 | Paulette | Yes I do | No concern, I Support the By-Law | I am a resident in a residential estate on the West Coast. I bought in a residential area and residential estate not in a holiday resort. I find that all properties directly surrounding me operating guesthouses impacts my safety, peace and quiet and living conditions. The municipality should control this. | |
2026-08-31 11:54:24 +02:00 | Tiaan | Not fully | All of the above | Threat to Tourism Competitiveness, SMMEs & Informal Jobs | I do agree that some changes are needed to allow for more balancing between commercial and non-commercial letting. The majority of these proposed changes seems to be stemming from squeezing more money out of already cash strapped citizens. |
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- Level Playing Field:
Traditional hotels, B&Bs, and registered guesthouses pay commercial rates and utility tariffs. Dedicated full-time Airbnbs operating as commercial businesses should contribute equal municipal rates. - Infrastructure Contribution:
High-density tourist rentals place heavier loads on municipal roads, water, waste, and security infrastructure in tourist hubs. Commercial rates ensure fair municipal cost recovery. - Consumer Protection:
A verified municipal registry helps eliminate online rental scams and fake listings, giving holidaymakers confidence in legitimate accommodation.
- Level Playing Field:
“Mandatory municipal registration protects tourists from fake listings and accommodation scams. Displaying an official City registration number guarantees the property is legitimate and traceable.”
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- Flawed “Availability” Test:
Taxing hosts based on open calendar days rather than actual income penalises owners whose properties sit empty off-peak. An empty flat listed online earns zero revenue yet gets hit with a commercial tax penalty. - Punishing Household Survival:
Middle-class families, retirees, and single-property owners rely on seasonal holiday letting to cover skyrocketing bond rates, electricity tariffs, and living costs. - Inflated Prices for Guests & Tourists:
Reclassifying rentals onto commercial rates increases operational costs by up to 135%. Hosts will pass these costs onto guests, making Cape Town less affordable for domestic South African families. - Draconian Sanctions & POPIA Risks:
Threatening property owners and tech platforms with 6 months in prison over administrative registration numbers is excessive. Automated data-sharing between global platforms and municipal databases raises personal privacy concerns under POPIA.
- Flawed “Availability” Test:
“Slapping commercial property rates on holiday lets will simply result in higher prices at checkout. Domestic South African families looking for affordable beach holidays will be priced out, while small local businesses, restaurants, and transport operators will suffer if tourist spending decreases.”