Holiday homeowners angry at request to give up investment properties to help struggling families

With hard-working families being forced out of towns across the country as the national rental crisis worsens, one town’s mayor has an idea that could ease the local burden.

The mayor of Busselton in WA has suggested holiday home owners rent out their investment properties to those in need.

But the idea has been balked at with one multi-property owner saying it is “not her problem” to solve.

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“They are asking people to give up their livelihoods and to sacrifice their family holidays and a good source of income for a problem that really isn’t theirs,” Davinia Gillard told Today.

With Busselton being one of Western Australia’s biggest food and wine regions, Davinia said giving up properties as long-term rentals would “have a huge impact” personally.

“I personally have at least 15 people working for me, so if all our homes went to long-term rental, you are asking people to give up their jobs as well,” she said.

“So it’s not just giving up the home, but it’s also losing work and income in the community.”

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Davinia said she feels the government is using the idea as a scapegoat and the housing issue is not something new.

“I just find it frustrating that this is really a government problem. it’s not an everyday hard-working Australian’s problem,” she said.

“They are leaning on us to solve their housing problems.

“I have spoken to quite a few people, especially my clients and they are quite upset at even being asked.”

Watch the full interview with Davinia above

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