Short stay rental reform Bill booked into Parliament

• Stronger regulation of short-term rental accommodation a step closer with new Bill
• Short stay rental accommodation register introduced
• $10,000 grants creating long-term rentals for Western Australians in need of a home 

The Cook Government has today introduced a Bill into State Parliament that will provide stronger regulation of Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) in Western Australia.

The introduction of new legislation comes as a growing number of property owners take up a $10,000 incentive payment to switch from the short stay to the long-term rental market.

Under the new regulations, owners must register their STRA properties before they can advertise and take bookings, including on online booking platforms.

The STRA Register, to be operated by Consumer Protection, is expected to open in mid-2024, with all properties, both hosted and unhosted, required to be registered by 1 January 2025. Hosted properties are those where the host lives onsite, while unhosted properties are where guests have exclusive use of an entire house, unit or apartment.

The reforms also include changes to planning requirements. In the Perth metropolitan area, unhosted STRA property owners will need to obtain development approval if the property is rented out for more than 90 nights within a 12-month period. Elsewhere in WA, including the Peel Region, local governments will consider the needs of local communities to determine when planning approval is required. Hosted STRA properties across WA will not require planning approvals.

Owners will need to demonstrate compliance with these planning requirements by 1 January 2026 to remain on the STRA register. 

Further information on the STRA Incentive Scheme, including maximum rents chargeable by location, planning approval reforms, and the STRA Register is available on the WA Government website's STRA Initiatives page.

Comments attributed to Commerce Minister Sue Ellery:

"These new reforms being introduced into Parliament today will pave the way for improved regulation for the short-term accommodation sector.

"There is no easy fix when it comes to addressing Western Australia's tight rental market, which is why our Government continues to develop reforms aimed at boosting housing supply.

"We also acknowledge the important role short-term rental accommodation plays for tourists wishing to explore our State.

"We believe these reforms have struck a balance between more robust regulation of short stay accommodation across the State and incentivising owners to make their properties available to people who need a place to call home."

Comments attributed to Planning and Housing Minister John Carey:

"The new short-term rental accommodation planning reforms will provide metropolitan local governments with guidance on STRA land uses in their planning schemes and frameworks through a balanced approach.

"The reforms provide a balanced approach to better regulation for STRA across the State and as well as providing local governments with guidance on STRA land uses in their local planning frameworks and schemes.

"Acknowledging the pressure in the rental market, our Government has also introduced a $10,000 incentive for STRA property owners to return their properties to the rental market."