Almost 200 short-stay properties in a renowned tourist area have been shifted into the long-term rental market during the past two years, as the local council steps up efforts to ease housing pressure and protect residential amenity.
Noosa Council issued a media release stating that the latest quarterly data revealed that further inroads were made into protecting neighbourhoods from the impacts of short-term accommodation, a key action of Noosa’s Destination Management Plan (DMP).
“Noosa’s DMP is about protecting the lifestyle we all value: that means ensuring tourism supports our community not displaces it,” Mayor Frank Wilkie said.
“Housing for local and essential workers is critical for delivering services our community and visitors expect and keeping Noosa a great place to live, work and visit.”
The update comes as the mayor called on more short-stay property owners to consider reverting their properties to long-term rental, and as Brisbane City Council moves to introduce a short-stay letting local law based on Noosa’s, which was the first in Queensland.
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A similar letter sent to Noosa short-stay property owners in 2023 successfully encouraged more than 60 short-stay approval holders to transition their properties back to long-term rental, helping ease local housing pressure.
The mayor’s letter, issued in late January, combined with planning scheme changes and local law regulations are part of the council’s push to ease housing pressures and deliver on the goals of Noosa’s new DMP.
The letter outlines incentives for owners who switch to the private rental market, including substantially lower property rates.
“It’s encouraging to see results already,” Cr Wilkie said.
“More than 113 owners chose to cancel their short-stay approvals during 2025, including 46 owners who have not renewed their approval since the July 2025 annual permit renewal date.
“This is in addition to the 83 properties no longer short-stay letting during the 2024 calendar year, meaning almost 200 properties have been made available for long-term accommodation over the past two years.
“Noosa does not have a visitor accommodation shortage, but it does lack housing for the key workers who service our community and the visitor economy.
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“And for amenity reasons, we’re using the Short-Stay Local Law to minimise the impact of short-stay letting in residential areas.”
In 2025, short-stay hotline data showed 94 per cent of the 284 complaints were resolved following a single phone call, and within 30 minutes.
Some 16 complaints needed follow-up with only three complaints not resolved within 30 minutes.
“The data shows most properties – about 96 percent – are not causing complaints,’’ Cr Wilkie said.
“A small percentage – four percent of short-stay properties – have generated complaints, with only three not resolving the issues within 30 minutes, and subsequently receiving an $834 fine.”
Last year, the council issued 14 infringement notices, 107 compliance notices and three show cause notices for breaches of the Short-Stay Local Law.
In 2022, Noosa became the first Queensland council to regulate short-stay letting under a local law. It introduced an approval process, a 24-hour complaints hotline and a guest code of conduct. Owners must provide an on-call contact who’ll respond to complaints within 30 minutes.
The council has boosted its enforcement efforts and is making improvements to complaints handling, following a recent review of the local law and its operations.
In the lead-up to Christmas, the council reminded all short-stay owners of their obligations, including making the Code of Conduct available to guests and on booking websites.
“Our communication with property managers was well received,” Development and Regulation Director Richard MacGillivray said.
“We’ve provided practical guidance to help hosts maintain harmony between visitors and residents and ensure a safe, enjoyable holiday season.”
The council’s short-stay team worked through Christmas to resolve complaints quickly.
“This year, the team will focus on reining in problem properties and expanding education, with plans for information sessions to support local property managers with a continued focus on proactively managing impacts on residential amenity.”
