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Displaying the 15 latest comments.
Submitted | first-name | support | concern | top-concern | message |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026-09-21 10:33:01 +02:00 | johanita | No I do not | All of the above | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | |
2026-09-21 10:13:14 +02:00 | Leendert | No I do not | All of the above | Administrative Complexity, Backdated Rates & De-Registration Red Tape | |
2026-09-21 10:07:29 +02:00 | Michael | Yes I do | No concern, I Support the By-Law | ||
2026-09-21 09:14:42 +02:00 | Dries | No I do not | All of the above | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | |
2026-09-21 09:05:27 +02:00 | Jeanette | Yes I do | Other | There is no explanation of what to do for properties that ARE already zones as a business and are paying business rates, as we are. Must we register? | |
2026-09-21 08:54:37 +02:00 | Jeannette | No I do not | All of the above | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | |
2026-09-21 03:15:08 +02:00 | Rudie | No I do not | All of the above | Listed Availability vs. Actual Booked Occupancy (Flawed Tariff Test) | |
2026-09-19 19:48:34 +02:00 | Veronique | No I do not | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | ||
2026-09-19 14:14:08 +02:00 | Lorenzo | No I do not | All of the above | Consumer Impact: Higher Nightly Accommodation Rates & Reduced Choice | |
2026-09-19 12:48:43 +02:00 | Johnny | No I do not | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | ||
2026-09-19 11:33:02 +02:00 | Nicola | No I do not | All of the above | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | The city is beyond over reach at this stage. We are still paying supplemental water rates bills from drought times, our rates have all increased due to incredibly high property evaluations. Our family hasn’t had an increase in salary income in 3 years but our expensive have gone up a minimum of 20% and we are all financially struggling. We have been forced to let our house out on airbnb in Dec to supplement our basic income to cover our basic expenses. Now the city wants to curb this earning opportunity as well. You’re going to force the middle class out of Cape Town because we can’t afford to live here anymore. Start serving and listening to the people and stop micromanaging everybody’s potential earnings. We’re exhausted by just keeping up with the basics. |
2026-09-19 09:23:09 +02:00 | Jean | No I do not | All of the above | Threat to Tourism Competitiveness, SMMEs & Informal Jobs | |
2026-09-19 08:17:15 +02:00 | Caitlin | Yes I do | All of the above | Fair Competition: Aligning Dedicated Commercial Lets with Hotels | I support this proposal, so long as this applies solely to short-term rentals and not to long-term rentals. That would push people away from short-term rental structures and help the current housing crisis by opening the market to actually assist people who need homes, not just people who want to live it up for a few days. By having long-term tenants, you also build a stronger community by prioritising people who’ll be around for longer, which in turn makes the area safer and friendlier. In regard to the penalties proposed, I think the jail time is absolutely necessary - coupled with some kind of warning structure. If the landlord has been adequately notified and record of that exists, but the landlord has refused to become compliant, then jail-time is a valid response. Why jail-time and not a fine? For the wealthiest entities who own massive short-term rental portfolios, fines and penalties have no tangible meaning and become just another administrative fee in a very profitable business. Jail time is not so easily swallowed. So long as this proposal is well considered and conscientiously implemented, I believe it to be a deeply necessary step in combating the blatantly profit-driven housing crisis, where young people cannot find a home but are surrounded by unoccupied houses. |
2026-09-19 07:52:46 +02:00 | Theresa | No I do not | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | ||
2026-09-19 05:58:36 +02:00 | Robert | No I do not | All of the above | Fair Competition: Aligning Dedicated Commercial Lets with Hotels |
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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.”