Brisbane cracks down on Airbnb with hundreds of properties to be blocked
Brisbane City Council has unveiled a crackdown forcing almost 500 short-stay properties back to long-term rentals under tough new permit rules.
Hundreds of Brisbane properties could be blocked from being leased on short-stay platforms like Airbnb and Stayz under an accommodation crackdown.
Properties that remain for rent on the platforms will also be subject to tighter restrictions under a new permit scheme that includes having a 24-7 contact person who can respond to complaints within one hour and a set of house rules for guests.
Almost 500 homes in low and low-medium density suburbs have been identified by Brisbane City Council as operating as short-stay.
Their owners will soon be told by Brisbane City Council their properties need to be returned to the long-term rental market by June 30, 2026 because they don’t have or are unlikely to receive the necessary approvals to continue as short-stay.
New reforms, unveiled on Tuesday, will also include a new three-strikes permit system to stamp out rogue operators whose short-stay guests frequently disturb neighbours.
The proposed changes will be included in a new local law.
The crackdown follows the completion of Council’s Short Stay Accommodation Taskforce and extensive consultation.
Under the new permit scheme, operators will be required to: nominate a 24-hour contact person to respond to complaints within 60 minutes and report back to Council within 24 hours; provide guests with house rules; display the permit number in all advertisements; hold public liability insurance and obtain any other required approvals.
Short stay operators applying for a permit will need the property owner’s consent and body corporates will also need to be notified.
The cost of the permit has not been determined.
Short-stay accommodation owners who break the rules and incur three warnings from council within a three-year period will have their permit rejected.
While owners who let their property as short stay without a permit face fines of more than $140,000.
Hotels, emergency and social housing, serviced apartments with 24/7 onsite management, and home-based bed and breakfast businesses will be exempt from the permit scheme.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the reforms were about striking a balance between supporting tourism and economic activity and protecting the suburban peace.
“We want to make sure our suburbs remain places where residents enjoy the lifestyle Brisbane is known for,” he said.
“These changes will help return hundreds of homes to the long-term rental market while still ensuring short stay accommodation can operate in the parts of the city where it makes sense.
“By better managing where short stay accommodation is located, we’re creating more certainty for residents and visitors while helping strengthen the supply of homes in Brisbane’s suburbs.
“Our suburbs are the heart of Brisbane, it’s where people live, work and relax and it’s important to protect the character and amenity of our neighbourhoods.”
Australian Apartment Advocacy Director Samantha Reece said the changes would protect apartment owners as well as offer much needed accommodation choice for families and groups.
“The Australian Apartment Advocacy commends the Brisbane City Council for its foresight to put these regulations in place in advance of the 2032 Olympics,” she said.
“The Council has engaged in meaningful dialogue with a number of key stakeholders and the proposed laws reflect the comments raised during the 12-month consultation process.
“We look forward to working with the city as these laws come into place from 2026 and monitoring their positive impact.”
Public consultation on the reforms will start on Friday, with the council hoping the changes will be effective from July next year.
Council’s Labor opposition leader Jared Cassidy said the LNP had no credibility on the issue.
“They’ve announced crackdowns before and things only got worse,” he said.
“In 2023, council announced a short-stay-accommodation taskforce that identified over 400 dwellings would go back into the rental market.
“Instead, council continued to approve conversions of long-term rentals into short-stay accommodation, ending the leases of hundreds of tenants, such as those living in the Utopia building in Fortitude Valley.
“Council announced this permit system during the 2024-25 budget but failed to act until 18 months later.
“How can anyone trust that things could get better under this LNP council?
“If you’re frustrated at long lines at rental inspections, make sure you let Adrian Schrinner know how you feel.”
Originally published as Brisbane cracks down on Airbnb with hundreds of properties to be blocked
