Government launches investigation into Townsville Booking.com property

A TikTok has helped unearth a short-term accommodation facility in the Townsville CBD with a government department launching investigation. See the pictures.

Jordie van den Berg raised questions about a short term accommodation facility operating at 493 Flinders St. Picture: Leighton Smith.

A short-term accommodation facility has been unearthed in the Townsville CBD with a government department launching an investigation into its compliance with the law.

A popular social media sleuth has shone a spotlight on the accommodation, questioning whether it had the necessary approvals.

Known for his commentary on rentals and poor quality houses in popular suburbs, Melbourne lawyer and TikToker Jordie van den Berg acted on a tip-off to investigate a boarding house operating at 493 Flinders St, Townsville.

Formerly Askern Bros Disposals, the space was advertised as “CBD Retail/Office Space with commercial kitchen” for lease in 2021.

But the premises is currently being advertised on Booking.com as “City Furnished Private room with skylight ventilation, airconditioning, internet” and “had been welcoming guests since Mar 29, 2022” – charging $500 per week.

@purplepingers The queens land department of communities and housing were mean to me on the phone lol #shitrentals#shitrentalsofqueensland#purplepingers#townsville♬ original sound - Jordie van den Berg

Mr van den Berg told the Townsville Bulletin, “it’s haphazardly constructed … no doors on certain things and curtains instead, (it’s got) 12 bedrooms and two bathrooms … the kitchen had a bunch of Kmart boxes, it just didn’t look clean.”

Booking.com listing for the short term accommodation facility at 493 Flinders St. Picture: Booking.com.

The property does not appear on the Queensland Government’s Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy (CHDE) Register of Residential Services.

The department warns that operating an unregistered boarding house or rooming accommodation could incur a fine of up to $143,750.

In a Booking.com review left in July 2022, Hailie said, “do not book, safety concerns and stunk of cigarette smoke. Did not complete stay”.

Picture: Booking.com.

Picture: Booking.com.

She said guests were “engaging in threatening behaviour” and “setting up cameras in the communal area to catch people stealing food”.

“We reached out in regards to a refund and to voice our concerns around safety and did not receive any response,” she said.

Margaret left a review on June 14, 2022, saying “nothing about this place was likeable”.

“The room felt more like a bomb shelter than a nice room. It had no windows and was stuffy. Very disappointed,” she said.

Kitchen area of the short term accommodation facility at Flinders St. Picture: Booking.com.

Townsville City Council’s ePlanning portal shows that the owner applied to convert the property from a retail space to a boarding house in 2019.

There were no supporting documents provided and no evidence that a formal development application process was undertaken to change the use of the property.

TCC was unable to respond to questions before the deadline.

A CHDE spokesman said they had launched an investigation into the property and engaged with stakeholders to determine if a residential service was being provided at the address.

Laundry area of the boarding house at Flinders St. Picture: Booking.com.

“Under the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002, a service that provides accommodation to four or more people who individually pay rent and share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom is required to be registered with the department,” the spokesman said.

“Registration of a residential service includes addressing safety issues, such as fire safety and building compliance.”

The owner was contacted multiple times but did not respond to requests for comment.

Originally published as Government launches investigation into Townsville Booking.com property