Noosa is set to be the first council in Queensland to introduce a local law to ensure short-stay home providers are “good neighbours”.
The law, expected to be ratified on Thursday and come into effect early next year, aims to “preserve the amenity” of residential areas.
It covers a local management framework, code of conduct for behaviour and minimum safety standards for guests.
Short-stay property owners who live outside Noosa Shire will have to appoint a local contact person who must respond to all complaints within 30 minutes.
The contact person must be available at all times and be located within 20 minutes of the property.
Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said the Short-Stay Letting Local Law would also protect guests by introducing minimum safety standards property owners had to meet.
“This local law gives us a practical tool – over and above the planning scheme – to ensure short-stay property owners are being good neighbours and dealing with issues as they arise,” she said.
An estimated 86% of Noosa’s short-stay accommodation operators are based outside Noosa Shire with 51% of those also outside Queensland.
“With the state shelving its plans for a state-wide framework and our community calling out for controls on the use of residential properties for short-stay accommodation, we must act,” Mayor Stewart said.
The new local law will require owners to appoint a manager or contact person, with the complaints hotline number and approval number to be displayed on the front of the property.
“The contact person must be available 24/7, be located within 20km of the short-stay property and respond to all complaints within 30 minutes,” the mayor said.
The local law introduces an approval for short-stay and home-hosted properties to take effect from February, which is renewed annually, plus rules around vehicle and trailer parking.
Council will establish a 24-hour complaints hotline and trial the use of a security firm to monitor problem properties.
The mayor said guests would have to comply with a code of conduct, with the property manager or contact person responsible for enforcing it.
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“We’ll develop a suite of educational resources to support the short-stay industry with the introduction of the new local law, including a Good Management Guide for both short-stay letting and home-hosted accommodation providers,” she said.
“The guide and other factsheets, plus information about the complaints process and hotline number, will be available on a dedicated webpage.”
The mayor said council would recoup some of the administration costs through fees and property rates by way of a special rating category introduced this year.
“The fees will take effect next year, subject to Council’s budget process.”
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Introduction of the local law follows two rounds of community consultation, which attracted more than 600 written submissions from residents, short-say property owners and industry.
“Overwhelmingly, residents called for more Council involvement in regulating short-stay letting, with many calling for a 24/7 complaints hotline, centralised complaints register and security services. With this local law we’re delivering on those calls,” Mayor Stewart said.
Council will establish a multi interest stakeholder group and will review the local laws after 12 months and report back to council with recommendations.
Council is expected to ratify the Short-Stay Local Law on Thursday, after it won support at a General Committee Meeting.
