Short-stays outnumber rentals by the thousands in Noosa housing crisis

The housing crisis gripping the southeast has hit blue-chip suburbs of Noosa, where short-term accommodation is outstripping rental by up to 50-1. See where is worst hit.

In suburbs such as Noosa Heads there are 2,406 more short-term accomodation options than long-term rentals.

Latest figures have revealed short-term accommodation options are dramatically outstripping long-term rentals by more than 50-1 in blue-chip suburbs in the Noosa region.

According to data provided by the Noosa Council, in the suburb of Noosa Heads alone there are an estimated 2442 short-term rentals available, with the organisation aware of about 5200 in total operating in the area.

Comparatively, a realestate.com search showed only 36 long-term rental options in the Noosa Heads area with rent climbing as high as $3000 a week.

An Airbnb search for the Noosa region came up with over 1000 properties, while a realestate.com search for the whole Noosa shire found 245 results, as a housing crisis continues to grip the area.

The highest price for a long-term rental to live in the region was a $3200 a week for a property in Sunshine Beach.

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

Noosa Shire Council mayor Clare Stewart wrote to property owners pleading with them to put their properties on the long-term rental market. Photo: Supplied

A review of the scheme earlier this year saw the council further resource the initiative by adding two new temporary compliance officers to work through a backlog of applications and improve compliance.

Noosa Council environment and sustainable development director Kim Rawlings said they were aware of 5265 short-term accommodation options operating in the Noosa region, with 4000 of these still yet to register with the council under the new local law.

“Most properties have been operating under lawful planning approvals or existing use rights under former planning schemes, however have been unregulated in terms of how they operate and manage guest behaviour and complaints, which is what the local law covers,” she said.

Ms Rawlings said council has approved 1968 short-stay letting and home-hosted accommodation since the law was introduced last year and officers were working through an additional 199 applications.

Ms Rawlings said staff had dealt with 94 compliance issues.

“Ranging from operating without approval, failing to display signage, noise complaints or failing to adequately respond to after-hour call-outs,” she said.

The Noosa Council was asked if they would ever consider blocking short-term accommodation applications or incentivising people to put their properties into the long-term rental market.

Noosa Council communications and community engagement manager Ken Furdek said the mayor had written to property owners in January, 2023 pleading with them to reconsider putting their properties in the long-term rental market.

What Noosa region suburbs are the worst for renters?

Noosa Heads: 2442 short-term rentals/ 36 long-term rentals (highest price $3000 a week)

Noosaville: 1348 short-term rentals/ 42 long-term rentals (highest price $2,200 a week)

Sunshine Beach: 594 short-term rentals/ 17 long-term rentals (highest price $3,200 a week)

Peregian Beach: 326 short-term rentals/ 17 long-term rentals (highest price $1900 a week)

Sunrise Beach: 206 short-term rentals/ 13 long-term rentals (highest price $1200 a week)

Noosa Hinterland: 187 short-term rentals/ 42 long-term rentals (highest price $1800 a week)

Tewantin: 85 short-term rentals/ 16 long-term rentals (highest price $1250 a week)

Marcus/Castaways Beach: 77 short-term rentals/ 6 long-term rentals (highest price $1400 per week)

Originally published as Short-stays outnumber rentals by the thousands in Noosa housing crisis