Could Noosa’s potential crackdown on short-term holiday rentals could trigger concerns across Australia?
Property owners and investors in Noosa could soon face significant changes with proposed amendments which would restrict short-term holiday rentals. The popular tourist destination, which welcomes two million visitors annually, is preparing to implement new rules limiting properties outside the Tourism Accommodation Zone to four short-term bookings or a maximum of 60 days per year, and only if the owner lives on-site. This could have far-reaching effects on both real estate investments and the broader tourism economy in the region.
Local property expert Kirstie Klein-Hunter from Klein Hunter Property Buyers warns that the changes could severely impact investors.
“Many of my buyers prefer to buy in areas where they can maximise their investment through holiday lettings. The Tourist Accommodation Zone is a relatively small area and if these changes are adopted, owners outside of the zone may not be able to holiday let their properties,” Kirstie said.
“Most existing and potential Noosa property owners are unaware of these proposed changes and there needs to be more awareness around what this means for individuals.
“The impact will see a reduction in the availability of holiday lettings which in turn will increase demand and accommodation prices will follow suit.”
Noosa isn’t the first to introduce such regulations. Barcelona, New York City and Paris have already implemented similar restrictions to protect housing availability for locals and manage the impact of tourism. In Barcelona, authorities cap the number of holiday rentals, while New York requires owners to live on-site if they rent out their property for fewer than 30 days. Paris has also restricted short-term rentals to 120 days annually to maintain housing for residents.
Noosa’s proposed changes follow a similar pattern aimed at preserving community balance while limiting the negative effects of tourism.
Ms Klein-Hunter expressed concern over how these changes could affect local businesses reliant on tourism.
“If there is less accommodation for holiday makers, nightly rates will rise and travellers may look to go elsewhere. The addition of holiday homes has made Noosa more accessible for travellers and reversing this style of accommodation will be bad news for small business owners who rely on the visitor economy including cafes and restaurants,” she said.
