The state government wrapped up its inquiry into short-stay accommodation last year amid nationwide concerns about the model's effect on housing and rental affordability. A key finding was that South Australia lacked the data. The committee floated a registration scheme, a concept already seen in Western Australia and New South Wales.
Jenny Bickley, an accountant in Mount Gambier who makes about $45,000 in profit each year from guests hiring her dual-abode property, said the Airbnb model was "way better than renting". She said registration could help shake out "cowboys" operating unlawfully, but echoed concerns about how the scheme would be applied.
"I'd be very upset if they actually wanted to charge us and put an extra fee on it," she said. Ms Bickley said most of her bookings were people visiting the town for events.
The Short Term Accommodation Association Australia (STAAA) backed a statewide register but wanted the approach reconsidered and warned of "unnecessary duplication". A discussion paper indicated councils could apply their own land-use codes and decide rates, which the association was not keen on.
"We need one state, one register and one consistent registration system," executive director Keiran Craig-Jones said.
Fourth-generation farmer David Galpin entered short-stays last year, pitching his purpose-built paddock-view property in Penola as a luxury escape. He welcomed the register and believed it could inform the family's future business moves and even lead to more short-stay rentals.
"If we had data in front of us to say more beds were needed, we could work towards that," he said. The details of the scheme have not been locked in.