Queensland’s new plan to track Airbnb holiday rentals

A new register to track the impact of short term rental accommodation, such as Airbnb, on Queensland’s spiralling rental crisis will be launched as part of the state Labor government’s new $3.1bn housing plan.

A new register to track the impact of short-term rental accommodation, such as Airbnb, on Queensland’s spiralling rental crisis will be launched as part of the state Labor government’s new $3.1bn housing plan.

Premier Steven Miles, who will unveil the rebooted housing plan at the Queensland Media Club on Tuesday, said the new register would be used to “monitor” short-term rental properties, flagging “further interventions” in market if needed. “We will back councils to make short-term rental policies that fit the needs of their communities,” he said.

Private holiday letting has ­become popular with investors because the returns are typically stronger than if the property were offered as a long-term rental. In the past week, Mr Miles has ­announced a 20 per cent funding boost to homelessness services, a crackdown on rent bidding and set a new target to build an extra 53,500 social homes by 2046.

In his speech, Mr Miles will pledge $3.1bn for housing, which he touts as the state’s “single largest investment” into the system. “It is a comprehensive plan to build more homes faster, support renters, help first-home owners, boost our social housing big build and work towards ending homelessness,” an expert in his speech says.

Construction nationally is at record low levels with industry concerned states will struggle to meet targets for new homes.