Hotels at risk in Airbnb war
QUEENSLAND’S hotel industry could become collateral damage in an apartment heavyweight’s war against short-term accommodation.
The Unit Owners Association of Queensland (UOAQ) wants the Gold Coast and Brisbane City councils to fine a hotel operator and mum and dad AirBnB renters for breaching the Building Act.
If successful, it would destroy the Gold Coast and Queensland’s hotel industry, says a management lawyer.
UOAQ president Wayne Stevens said apartment owners needed protection as the buildings they bought into increasingly became overrun by holiday-makers.
Mr Stevens said unit owners were supposed to be protected by the Building Act, which bans short-term accommodation in Class 2 buildings.
While the Queensland Government has established a working group to combat the issues from AirBnB, the UOAQ said the necessary legislation was already in place to stop short-term rental throughout the state.
The Department of Housing and Public Works confirmed a Class 2 was for “long-term use” and a spokesperson said “there (were) no immediate plans to change requirements in the National Construction Code regarding short-term accommodation from Class 2 Buildings.”
The UOAQ has written to the Gold Coast and Brisbane city councils asking them to target Class 2 building owners who breach the act by allowing short-term use.
A Gold Coast City spokesman said there needed to be a “clear breach” to justify taking action.
If the UOAQ was successful it would destroy the Gold Coast and Queensland’s hotel industry, said management lawyer John Mahoney.
“Almost without exception, all of the highrise buildings on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and North Queensland are Class 2 buildings,” he said.
“Such a change would decimate the tourism and management rights industries throughout Queensland, especially the Gold Coast.”
Mr Mahoney said over the past 30 years almost every new building was Class 2 and not Class 3, which are for hotels.
Stricter fire safety measures are required in Class 3 buildings because guests in hotels are unfamiliar with their surroundings. There were also different requirements with communal spaces and access.
Queensland Hotels Association chief executive officer Bernie Hogan said he was aware of the issue and it was being discussed in the government working group.
“Our concern is the difference in regulation between AirBnB independent hosting and that of apartment hotels.”
Brisbane City Council did not respond to Bulletin questions.