The Brisbane City Council has raided a property and found 37 people living in a student house.

Most of the residents at the Sunnybank Hills house on the city's southside were international students.

Portaloos had been set up in the backyard and makeshift bedrooms created in the garage.

The Council last week adopted changes to the House Code reducing the number of unrelated people permitted to live in a dwelling from six to five.

Since July, the Council has inspected more than 1000 houses in an effort to crackdown on overcrowding.

Officers have issued 180 enforcement notices.

Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk says in many cases overseas students are charged top dollar to live in substandard accommodation - with not enough toilets or bedrooms.

He says the Council relies on the community to identify illegal properties.