A NEW council planning scheme threatens to deflate a booming industry of Airbnbs in the Southern Downs, but motel owners have welcomed the move to even the playing field.

Recent changes to the Southern Downs Regional Council planning scheme now require Airbnb owners to seek council approval and pay an annual permit fee to offer their home as accommodation.

Mayor Tracy Dobie said the regulations were designed to ensure a minimum standard of health and safety across the region.

"This is to some degree a complex topic. You can advertise and register with Airbnb without having any of the prior approvals or without having met any of the basic safety requirements," Cr Dobie said.

But Warwick Airbnb advertiser Stephen Anastasi said the council's fees and regulations were "anachronisitc" and could kill off industry newcomers.

New to the game

In their first 12 months on Airbnb, Mr Anastasi and partner Susie Stevens have welcomed a constant stream of weekend guests into their stunning Palmerin St Queenslander.

But having worked as a building and environment manager in four other councils, Mr Anastasi said the council's safety requirements were already covered under the building regulations and health act.

"Council will come in and audit every now and then but we are audited by our visitors on a weekly basis," he said.

When a guest uses Airbnb they are required to leave an online review and rating that helps keeps standards in check.

"We are already audited every single time anyone walks in here," Mr Anastasi said.

Slapping a permit fee of more than $400 on Airbnbs was "unjustified", he said.

"The question is, what are we getting for our money?"

Leveling out the field

Mr Anastasi suggested the council could improve competition by removing fees from hotels and motels instead of making Airbnb users pay more.

"If motels say it's unfair, take away their fee as well," he said.

Ms Stevens said it was in the interest of hotels and motels to ensure their business was of a high standard.

"We just do live in this new age of rating things and it is very effective," she said.

Ms Stevens said the high fees could discourage people from offering their homes on Airbnb and put a pin in the region's tourism industry.

"We are a fantastic source for restaurants in town - we recommend them over and over."

What's the point here?

Warwick motel owner Gary Withers also questioned the value of council registration and licensing.

In four years of owning the Warwick City View Motel, Mr Withers said he had been audited by council once.

"We asked why and where the money we pay goes and that council officer couldn't answer our questions," he said.

"In that regard I fully agree. It would be good to have some sort of a report back to explain how our money is spent."

Mr Withers said the industry needed an even playing field but he was not convinced on de-regulation.

"Not every guest has the same expertise when they look at a hotel room," he said.

"They don't necessarily look for the same things as someone trained and qualified to inspect a motel."

The mayor said councils across Queensland had been grappling with how to regulate private rentals in the age of Airbnb.

She said SDRC staff were searching Airbnb for local listings and inviting them to register their business.

"We are looking at how we can simplify the process so businesses can be registered more easily," Cr Dobie said.

But Ms Stephens and Mr Anastasi said they would be asking council to reconsider the fees under the new planning scheme.

Commitment to service

Mr Withers said professionalism sets motels apart from Airbnbs.

"A lot of people who run Airbnbs seem to do it as a source of extra income, like a hobby," he said.

But even though Ms Stevens doesn't rely on Airbnb as a sole income, it's more responsibility than one might think.

She described "hours" of washing, cleaning and upkeep to stay competitive in a system governed by user ratings and reviews.

Meticulous presentation and attention to detail has won Ms Stevens and Mr Anastasi a near-perfect rating from their visitors by the end of their first year in business.

Ms Stevens said she loved having guests, meeting new people and sharing a slice of the Southern Downs with visiotrs to the region.