Noosa Council Airbnb rules: Proposed registration fees revealed

Thousands of Noosa holiday home owners could be slugged with a $950 fee as the deadline looms for registrations under the council’s strict new rules. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Thousands of Noosa Airbnb owners are yet to register their properties and could face fees of almost $1000 under strict new rules for the short stay accommodation industry.

Homeowners have until June 31 to register their short stay properties for free but as of last week only about 800 of the estimated 5000 holiday homes and units had signed up.

The Noosa Council’s draft budget proposed a $950 registration fee for holiday homes, $320 for units and $240 for home-hosted properties.

Environment and sustainable development director Kim Rawlings said the proposed fees were based on a full cost recovery model for the council’s time and resources needed to receive and assess the applications.

It also proposed an annual renewal fee of $150.

Noosa became the first local government in Queensland on February 1, 2022, to introduce a local law enforcing strict rules for short stay accommodation.

Castaways Beach House Noosa owner Greg Turner said he hoped more properties would register.

“It’s heading in the right direction,” he said of the local laws.

“But I wonder with only 800 registered I’m concerned if the owners are going to adhere to these rules, and what are the consequences for people who have not registered.”

Mr Turner purchased a townhouse in Castaways Beach in April – with the aim to eventually retire there – and gained holiday letting approval and registered under the local law.

“We started taking bookings from May and it has been good, we’re getting some bookings for the school holiday period and weekends,” he said.

“We want guests to know they can come to a place designed for holiday letting, that has the approval and is for families coming for holidays and weekends.”

Greg Turner, pictured with his son George, 6, hoped more Airbnb operators would register under the new Noosa Council local law.

The local law comes at a $2.5m cost to the council over five years with four people employed, security firms on standby and a 24/7 complaints line introduced.

Homeowners also must put in place a contact person available 24/7 who lives within or works within a 20km radius of the home and can respond to complaints.

The new local law introduces a code of conduct for guest behaviour and minimum safety standards for short-term-let properties to help protect guests in the absence of state government regulation.

“All properties being used for short-term accommodation or home-hosted accommodation require an approval,” Ms Rawlings said.

Greg Turner operates the Castaways Beach House Noosa as an Airbnb. Picture: Jenna Fahey

“Council has three compliance officers to identify any compliance matters.”

Ms Rawlings said owners who failed to register would be fined.

The registration fees form part of the council’s draft budget which was open for community consultation until June 5, 2022.

The council will analyse feedback before the final budget release at June 28, 2022.

Originally published as Noosa Council Airbnb rules: Proposed registration fees revealed