A guide to using your property for visitor accommodation is scheduled to go live on the $6700 upgraded website of the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) today.
District householders will be able to find out how many nights they may rent out their rooms, either as a registered homestay, or holiday home, QLDC senior policy analyst Scott Figenshow said on Friday.
Users are asked a series of questions with yes or no answers, which lead to the relevant resource.
District plan definitions of visitor accommodation in "planner speak" had been removed for ease of use.
"It's largely for people trying to use some form of residential property and translates how much they can use it for nightly letting before applying for resource consent," he said.
The web tool also features a rates calculator and details visitor accommodation standards, but does not ask for personal details until the end of the process.
The web pages replace an eight-page brochure which had been in circulation for two years.
Registration for properties as homestays and holiday homes is free and an alternative to resource consent.
"People who have holiday homes or homestays pay a mixed-use rate on their properties, which is on average 25% more than residential rates," Mr Figenshow said.
"It's their contribution towards the tourism development levy, which funds Destination Queenstown, Lake Wanaka Tourism and Arrowtown Promotion [and Business Association]."
The property guide innovation followed the relaunching of the council's website on Thursday, which was upgraded by Loop Solutions for $6700, plus GST, "well below the market rate for the project", QLDC communications officer Rebecca Pitts said.
"We also have ongoing host and support costs of $200, plus GST, every month, which is about the market rate. Actual maintenance and ongoing development is done in-house."
The upgraded website reflected changes in technology and demand over the past two years.
Changes included improved speed, performance, navigation and accessibility, a planning portal, a council document library, online consultation, events calendar, more online forms and an advanced search engine with split results.
Other information on the website included agendas, press releases, jobs, public notices, tenders, commissioners' decisions, forms, district plan, district plan changes, publications, mapping, and rates and general information.
