Starting an accommodation business?
The failure to register prescribed accommodation is an offence under Section 67 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.
Failure to register makes the proprietor liable to an infringement penalty notice or prosecution.
To register means to hold a current licence with us to legally operate a prescribed accommodation premise under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.
The following table outlines the types of accommodation premises which are required to be registered with us:
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Hotel
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This definition covers hotels where the primary purpose is an accommodation facility and hotels more commonly known as pubs which also incorporate an accommodation component.
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Motel
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A common meaning being an accommodation facility similar to a hotel intended to provide short-term accommodation for travellers.
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Hostel
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Any house, building or structure, whether temporary or permanent, which is used primarily for the accommodation of travellers. Examples include bed and breakfasts, youth hostels and backpackers.
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Student dormitories
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Any dormitory, student hostel, hall of residence or residential college for the accommodation of students which is controlled or operated under an agreement or affiliated with an educational provider.
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Holiday camp
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Any house, building or structure, whether temporary or permanent, which is used primarily for the accommodation of student groups, youth groups or family groups for holiday or recreational purposes.
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Rooming house
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A building in which there is one or more rooms available for occupancy on payment of rent in which the total number of people who may occupy those rooms is no less than four.
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Residential accommodation
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Any house building or other structure used as a place of abode where a person or persons can live on payment of consideration to the proprietor but does not include any of the above types of prescribed accommodation.
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The following accommodation is exempt from the requirement to be registered with us:
- A house under the exclusive occupation of the occupier;
- Self-contained flats under the exclusive occupation of the occupier;
- Temporary crisis accommodation;
- Health and residential services;
- Nursing homes;
- Retirement villages;
- Any vessel tent or caravan; and
- Premises in which, no more than five people who are not family members of the proprietor are accommodated, which is premises that is not a rooming house.
If you are unsure, please phone our environmental health team on (02) 6022 9300 and they will confirm your premises requirements.