Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce is organising workshops to help employers wanting to provide worker accommodation.
Acting CEO Sharon Fifield says the issues are wide-ranging and complex — two major considerations are are fringe benefit tax and employment contracts.
In respect of the latter, for example, employers need to understand what it means for an employee’s contract if they resign, or if disciplinary action’s required.
‘‘There are so many things [employers] need to think about.’’
The workshops will include an accountant specialising in property tax, and representatives from MyHR, Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust, Queenstown’s council and Core Logic to provide advice and answer questions from members.
The first event’s planned on April 4 at Remarkables Park’s Holiday Inn.
‘‘We’re looking for sponsorship at the moment for it, but we hope to have as many members as possible come along, because it’s just such a hot topic,’’ Fifield says.
A recent Chamber survey, regarding the rental housing crisis and how big an impact it was having on optimising staffing levels at present, found 75% of the 93-odd respondents had it as either their biggest issue, or an important one, ‘‘which is huge’’.
A new report on the housing issue from Arrowtown economist Benje Patterson found about 1081 more homes were consented in the district last year than were actually needed to meet the population growth demand, and about 649 new houses were built, over and above our needs.
According to 2018 data, 27% of the district’s houses are unoccupied.
Fifield believes saying there’s ‘‘nothing we can do’’ isn’t good enough.
‘‘Because of the tenancy laws as well, there’s no incentive for homeowners to rent long-term, and there’s no disincentive for them to have a vacant property — it’s crazy.’’
