• Parliament greenlights stronger regulation of short-term rental accommodation in WA
• New register and planning changes to balance needs of communities and owners

Laws requiring all Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) in Western Australia to be included on a new register have passed through State Parliament.

To be operated by Consumer Protection, the STRA Register is expected to open on 1 July 2024 and require all properties - both hosted (where the owner lives onsite while providing the accommodation) and unhosted (where guests have exclusive use of a property) - to be registered by 1 January 2025.

Accommodation owners will be required to display their registration number in any STRA advertisement, including on online booking platforms.

The new legislation also supports proposed changes to planning requirements, requiring unhosted STRA properties in the Perth metropolitan area to have development approval if rented out for more than 90 nights in a 12-month period.

Planning approval for unhosted STRA properties located elsewhere in WA, including the Peel region, will be at the discretion of local governments. Hosted STRA will not be subject to planning approvals anywhere in WA.

Local governments will be made aware of all new STRA registrations in their area so they may check whether the property is operating appropriately, and if necessary, initiate suspension or cancellation.

Penalties of up to $20,000 for an individual and $100,000 for a corporation will apply for offences such as providing false or misleading information during application or advertising when not registered.

Further information on the new STRA laws, including the register and planning reforms is available on the WA Government website's STRA Initiatives page.

Comments attributed to Commerce Minister Sue Ellery:

"This new registration scheme will, for the first time, provide up to date data on the STRA sector in WA, including how many there are, where they are located and how they are used.

"It will also provide the community with information about what STRA exists in their area and benefit guests by allowing them to confirm that their chosen accommodation is registered.

"We acknowledge the important role that STRA plays in WA's overall tourism offering and I am confident the new laws strike the right balance between better regulation of STRA throughout the State and the rights of individual property owners."

Comments attributed to Planning Minister John Carey:

"Our reform to short-term rental accommodation provides a stronger approach for better regulation of STRA across Western Australia, while providing clear guidance to local governments on STRA land uses in their local planning frameworks and schemes.

"All STRA properties will need to be registered throughout Western Australia, with hosted STRA properties exempt from the need to obtain development approval.

"Unhosted STRA properties in the Perth metropolitan area will require development approval if they are rented out for more than 90 nights in a 12-month period, while in regional areas, including Peel, the relevant local government will determine when planning approval is required.

"As part of our continued efforts to boost housing supply, our Government has also introduced a $10,000 incentive for STRA property owners to return their properties to the rental market."