Perth Voice Interactive

A PAIR of luxury Mount Lawley townhouses illegally rented out as short-term accommodation has been a nightmare for locals.

Sick of rowdy parties coming from 63 and 65 Alma Road—including a three-day bender featuring “30 young people, anti-social behaviour, swearing and excessive noise”—neighbours dobbed the properties in to Vincent council.

This week the council voted to shut down the operation—which had no approval—ignoring pleas from owner Robert Clark who’d said he’d made “a large investment” in the properties, which he was renting out for between $330 and $415 a night (with a three-night minimum).

“The target tenants are professionals, not students or backpackers, so we have no intention of renting to low-lifes or anything like that,” he’d told the council.

Mr Clark said he was happy to enforce a “no party” rule but was unable to win over the council.

If Mr Clark continues to rent the properties out he faces prosecution.

by DAVID BELL