Queensland housing shortage prompts review of Airbnb-style rentals

The Palaszczuk government is reviewing the impact of Airbnb-style rentals on the broader housing market in Queensland.

The move, which follows a delayed and heavily criticised crackdown in some parts of NSW, has been revealed in a response to a parliamentary question on notice.

The Queensland framework is expected to take the form of a guide for councils, rather than a hard cap on visitor nights.Credit: Michelle Smith

Independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton – whose local council has imposed registration fees for short-stay property owners – asked Deputy Premier Steven Miles whether the Queensland government would replicate NSW’s move.

Miles confirmed a broader review had started.

“This review includes how short-term rental accommodation is regulated under the planning framework, recognising the need for a balanced approach to how we use our homes for short-term and long-term accommodation,” he said.

“The regulatory framework for short-term rental accommodation will be considered in terms of its ability to provide an additional income stream for homeowners and its positive contribution to housing affordability.”

He said any impacts short-term rentals had on the availability and affordability of longer-term accommodation would also be considered with regard to the NSW framework.

First launched by the NSW government for Sydney properties in 2018, the 180-day cap on the use of empty properties as short-stay rentals was recently expanded to other regions, in what the head of booking platform Stayz labelled a blow to the recovering tourism sector.

Councils also criticised the move, suggesting they were better placed to impose caps. Implementation was then pushed back to November after feedback about the timeline for the changes.

Miles’ office was contacted for further details about the plans, but was yet to provide a response at the time of publication.

The Queensland framework is expected to take the form of a guide for councils, rather than a hard cap on visitor nights.

Brisbane City Council recently moved to apply higher rates – of about $600 a year – for properties used as Airbnb-style accommodation for more than 60 days a year, amid growing housing availability and affordability issues.

However, the council could not provide any data on the portion of the city’s 800,000 residential dwellings that would be affected, or how many it expected would take up the offer of lower rates in exchange for longer rentals from July 1.

On Friday, a council spokesperson said it was still too early to provide any details about how many properties would currently be in the higher rates category. The council has also not yet been involved in any consultation with the state government about the review.

Airbnb’s Australia and New Zealand country manager, Susan Wheeldon, said the company welcomed the Queensland review and supported “fair and balanced statewide rules”, including an industry-wide code of conduct.

“States with uneven and varied rules from council to council risk losing local travellers to others with less restrictive rules and a more diverse and affordable range of accommodation,” she said.

“With domestic and international travel returning to Australia, it’s important Queensland is competitive and able to make the most of the economic benefits of tourism, while also ensuring locals still have a broad range of affordable accommodation options.”

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said her council had been advocating for a statewide approach “for some time” but, with nothing planned, had decided to go it alone.

“Our residents wanted action, and our local law provides a local management framework, a code of conduct and an avenue for complaints,” Stewart said.

“A state review of the planning land-use definition of dwelling house and secondary dwellings, to enable secondary dwellings to be rented out long term and not short term, would go some way to being part of the housing crisis solution.”

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