It could soon be easier to rent short-term accommodation on boats berthed in marinas in North Queensland under a draft exemption that could see regulations relaxed.
Under Australian law, it is not legal for boat owners to rent out their vessel in an Airbnb style arrangement but in doing so, it automatically changes the vessel’s status from recreational to commercial, increasing requirements for owners to obtain certification.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said owners who wanted to Airbnb their boats should not be subjected to all requirements of a commercial operation, although there is concerns that the proposal could leave tenants with no boating experience unsupervised.