2021-12-13 GC Agenda - Item 8 -Attachment 1 - Housing Needs Assessment

remained severely restricted. In Shoalhaven, permanent rental vacancy rates were at an all-time low
but around 20% of the housing stock was available as residential tourist accommodation. AHURI
went to the extent of saying in their final remarks:
         In areas with high concentrations of (short term rental) STR Airbnb-style listings, even small
         reductions in the number of listings have generated benefits to the permanent rental market
         including significant reductions in rent. These benefits should be encouraged through
         stronger mechanisms to preserve permanent rental housing in high demand markets. At the
         same time, there may be opportunities to better use residential tourist accommodation during
         emergency periods. Better understanding and regulating the STR sector would support more
         flexible and efficient use of the entire housing stock.


10.5         Bond lodgements
The Regional Profile for Noosa Shire, suggests the RTA had the following numbers of bond
lodgements for the 12 months ending 30 June 2021:
         1 bedroom flat/unit – 176
         2 bedroom flat/unit – 328
         3 bedroom house – 388
         4 bedroom house – 410


According to RTA quarterly data, the RTA held bonds for properties in Noosa Shire over the last
couple of years, as per Table 35 below. There has been much discussion about the impact of
COVID19 on the availability of rental accommodation in Noosa Shire. What this data shows is that
from early 2020 there was actually an increase of RTA bonds. When international borders and some
state borders closed there were investors who transitioned properties from holiday letting to long
term tenancies so the quantum of rental accommodation actually increased for a period. From late
2020 it has been dropping again, but not significantly below the levels of 2019. In combination with
the vacancy rates, this means there is still a significant number of properties being rented, however
competition is much stronger than it once was, largely a result of increased interstate migration.


Table 35 Bonds held by RTA at a point in time

      Type of        Number     Number     Number       Number   Number    Number    Number   Number   Number
     property/       30 June    30 Sept    31 Dec         31     30 June   30 Sept   31 Dec     31     30 June
     tenancy          2019       2019       2019         March    2020      2020      2020     March    2021
                                                         2020                                  2021

 House                 2,493      2,475         2,517    2,500    2,512     2,523     2,473    2,476    2,432

 Townhouse/semi          371        375          371       361      401       413       397      397      394
 -detached
 (including
 duplexes)

 Flat/unit             1,285      1,273         1,264    1,271    1,325     1,365     1,340    1,325    1,294

 Movable dwelling           4         4            4         4         4         4        4        4         4

 Rooming                    6         4            3         5         2         2        3        7         9
 accommodation

 Other                      4         4            4         4         4         4        4        4         4




Noosa Housing Needs Assessment 2021                                                                    Page 90