2017-04-11 P&E Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 1 Housing Needs Assessment

         number of affordable dwellings (as defined by QPP) to be head-leased or owned by a registered
         social housing provider.

    45. The suitability of new affordable housing models summarised in Section 6.5.3 and their
         appropriateness to contribute to Affordable Living be considered.




7.2.6    Recommended Actions in Relation to Short Term Rental Accommodation
It is accepted that there are many social and economic reasons that Short Term Rental
Accommodation is required in Noosa Shire, both for visitor and resident accommodation, and
that there are many beneficial impacts of utilising otherwise unused accommodation.

Without the availability of this accommodation, the identified shortage of small and affordable
accommodation, especially in the rental market, would be significantly greater. Some people
would also be required to place larger homes onto the market and enter the market for smaller
accommodation (rental or purchase) themselves.

Council advises that in the majority of cases short term rentals have not caused problems,
including student home stays, although some issues of overcrowding have occurred. In particular
areas where significant numbers of whole dwellings may be rented out, such as Sunshine Beach
and Noosa Sound, issues of noise and car parking have been raised. This is exacerbated where
large proportions of the neighbourhood are holiday rentals and there is a reduced sense of
community. So called ‘party houses’ have also raised issues in relation to residential amenity
although these are the exception rather than the norm. Some issues are known to arise within
strata titled complexes where a mix of holiday lettings and permanent residents occurs. A Body
Corporate in Queensland has no power to adopt a by-law preventing short-term letting in
residential lots.

It is clear that short term rental housing will increasingly be provided and sought by both
permanent residents and visitors. For this reason, it is not recommended that Council make Short
Term Rental Accommodation subject to Development Approval. However several real estate
agents expressed the view in consultation that adequate controls for the practice needed to be
introduced. It would appear that the most effective regulation is at the State level. Queensland
does not appear to have adopted a position on the issue, and the use under QPP appears
essentially undefined. Other States and various Councils across Australia have had mixed
reactions to the issue, some clarifying that Short Term Rental Accommodation is legal; others
threatening fines and calling for applications for changes of use to be made, especially where a
whole house is to be rented out. For information, responses by BCC which could be considered
by Council are summarised below (see boxes).



BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL – SHORT TERM ACCOMMODATION

It is the view of BCC that the short-term rental of an entire dwelling house or unit by the property owner is
unlikely to be a subsidiary to the residential use of the property. This would likely constitute a ‘short-term
accommodation’ and require development approval from Council.

In this context, City Plan defines ’short-term’ as typically a stay of less than three consecutive months. The
development application is assessed by Council against Section 9.3.22 Short-term accommodation code in




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