Crashing the party
THERE are calls for tougher laws on Airbnb practices in residential streets in Port Douglas to help fix a rental shortage.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr is backing a push from the Local Government Association of Queensland for a national housing summit to address the impact of a “perfect housing storm”, with tighter Airbnb regulations for investors one priority.
Port Douglas, like much of the state, is experiencing a shortage of homes being rented to new staff moving to the area and for residents.
“Airbnb needs to be pulled into line,” Cr Kerr said.
“If you have a property in a residential area it must be residential, you should not be able to rent it out as a resort property.
“These are residential areas … they are designed in our planning scheme for people who live and work here, not to be run as tourist properties.
“It’s putting pressure on the housing shortage.”
Cr Kerr said many residents in the Four Mile area had complained to the council about “out of control” Airbnb parties in their once quiet streets.
“People are paying over a million dollars for a property in the Lakes Estate because they want to be in a private and locked estate, so how are you allowed to be running an Airbnb in there?” he said.
“The guests are usually partying until 2am.”
Lakes Close Body Corporate committee members Sue Ray and Brian Collyer said their neighbouring homes in the exclusive estate were designed for long-term residential and not for commercial use by large groups.
“Property owners using their house as a commercial venture in this way also do not care about the detrimental effects on the neighbours or other residents,” she said
“Most owners are either interstate or overseas and are simply making money regardless, as are the agents who manage them.”
Port Douglas resident Bob Stanton moved from his previous home of 15 years to a locked residential estate specifically to get away from “Airbnb issues”, only for them to follow him.
He said allowing commercial holiday use in quiet streets “just does not work”.