Qld: New option for people ‘sleeping in their cars or tents’

One state has amended laws so that people “sleeping in their cars or tents” have another option to find a roof over their head.

Queensland residents in need of emergency housing have been given a boost, with the state government amending laws to allow those with granny flats on their property to rent them to people other than immediate family.

On Friday, Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles announced the changes, which he said were suggested by stakeholders at the Queensland Housing Roundtable.

The new changes will remove the previous restrictions on who can live in “secondary dwellings” such as granny flats.

Mr Miles said many Queenslanders had granny flats on their properties, likely converted for teenagers or family members who have moved out.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said some Queenslanders were sleeping in their cars or tents. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

“Right now, most homeowners can’t rent secondary dwellings, such as granny flats, to anyone other than their immediate family,” Mr Miles said.

“At the same time, some Queenslanders are sleeping in their cars or tents.”

He said it made more sense for the government to allow such existing accommodation to be rented out to someone other than immediate family.

“It also allows homeowners to earn rent, helping them meet the increased cost of living,” he said.

“We can move people in to underutilised granny flats much more quickly than constructing new properties.”

Queenslanders can now rent out their granny flats to aid the housing crisis. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Queensland Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said the roundtable identified that accessible and affordable accommodation for renters was a challenge.

“This shortfall has been exacerbated by flooding in South East Queensland earlier in the year but is also an issue for many of the regional parts of the state too, as interstate migration increased significantly in the past two years,” Ms Enoch said.

Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said finding accessible and affordable accommodation for renters was a challenge. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

She said the Palaszczuk government was committed to explore a range of avenues so renters could gain access to a greater range of places to live.

“These proposals will provide greater housing choice and diversity within lower density residential areas to accommodate smaller households such as students, single persons, older people and couple-only households,” she said.

Mr Miles said these changes would be reviewed in three years in order to consider future housing supply and ensure there were “no unintended consequences”.

“Each homeowner will of course need to ensure their secondary dwelling complies with fire and building provision so accommodation for renters is safe,” Mr Miles said.