Brisbane renters furious as ‘hundreds’ allegedly booted from apartment building

“Hundreds” of renters have allegedly been booted from a Brisbane apartment complex in a bid to make way for more Airbnbs.

A number of Brisbane residents have allegedly been kicked out of their rental properties to make way for new Airbnbs close to the CBD.

Renters living at the Utopia Suites apartment building on Wickham St in Fortitude Valley claim they have been denied lease renewals in light of the building management now allowing the apartments to be turned into short term rentals.

Last week the South East Queensland Union of Renters (SEQUR) claimed “hundreds” of people have been told their lease for their apartment won’t be renewed with the intention to “replace long-term apartments with Airbnbs”.

“While renters are forced to live in cars, crash on their friends couches, or sleep rough in parks, and thousands of others struggle to meet their needs after high rent, landlords are making a killing off the exploitation of tenants,” the union said in a Facebook post.

The building management recently rebranded from Utopia Suites Management Pty Ltd to Kooii Apartments.

The South East Queensland Union of Renters claimed ‘hundreds’ of people are being forced to move out of the building. Picture: SEQUR – South East Queensland Union of Renters/Facebook

The apartments are located in Fortitude Valley. Picture: 7News/Channel 7

A “change of use” was granted by the council in November last year to allow short term accommodation at the apartment building in addition to existing rental properties, according to 7News.

One resident told the outlet that he first learned of the change after seeing a notice on the elevator.

“It was just a piece of paper saying there has been a change of management and there is going to be a lot more short term accommodation,” he said.

A Google search of Kooii Apartments says it will be opening in March and brands itself as “Brisbane’s new serviced apartment offering”.

“A living, breathing, socialising, experiencing, exhilarating destination – where the unexpected is around every corner and indulgence awaits at each turn, it’s all here perfectly positioned,” a description of the apartment states.”

The company states the apartments are “ideal” for both leisure and business travellers, offering an “exclusive” collection of apartments for short-term stays, along with amenities such as an infinity pool, spa, sauna, gym, roof top cinema and roof top barbecue facilities.

News.com.au has reached out to the apartment’s management team for comment.

A look inside one of the apartments in the building. Picture: bne_utopia_space/Instagram

Kooii Apartments addressed the claims residents were being forced to leave to make way for more short term stays after a question was submitted to the company via Google.

“We manage just over 200 apartments out of the 300 in the building as property managers for individual owners,” the response read.

“Some of these owners have exercised their option to put their apartments into the short-term letting pool (serviced apartments).

“The apartment owners we represent are entitled to try to maximise their return on their investment.”

The management said they had a combination of both long and short term rentals that they will manage into the future.

Resident, Sarah Nixon, told 7News that she was recently informed she has to vacate her rental apartment by April.

“I have been here for a year and a half. I have just been told that they are not going to be renewing my lease,” the 24-year-old revealed.

“Where are we going to go? It is already hard to find a rental.”

Sarah Nixon is one of the residents being forced to move. Picture: 7News/Channel 7

Another renter, Shakira Wilson claimed she was previously told she would be able to renew the same apartment but “then all of a sudden” was told that wasn’t the case and she would need to move out when her lease ends.

A post about the change to the apartment building on the Brisbane Reddit page attracted hundreds of comments from furious renters, including a number of people claiming to live in the building.

One commenter said they were one of the renters who was being kicked out of the building.

“We were told we have to leave as they no longer were going to renew the lease,” they claimed, adding they were given “minimal notice” that the lease wasn’t going to be renewed.

Another person said: “My friends live here and are getting kicked out, they aren’t even allowed to break the lease and leave early.”

Another commenter who claims to have rented in the building since it opened said this is the first time they have not been offered a lease renewal.

They claimed the management waited until two weeks out from the end of the lease before informing them that the owner wanted to lease to a relative.

“You could’ve told me straight up a month ago,” the commenter said.

“Now I’ve applied for 20+ places with no preference other than close to public transport and not a single approval.

“I make low 6 figures and have a good rental history, no pets and no kids. It’s an absolute joke.”

Originally published as Brisbane renters furious as ‘hundreds’ allegedly booted from apartment building