Attention, Airbnb hosts and WA renters! Big news has just landed from the Cook Government, shaking up the state’s Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) scene and offering a sweet deal for long-term rental seekers. Buckle up for a deep dive into the reforms and how they might impact you.
What’s changing?
- State-wide STRA register: All short-stay properties in WA, whether you’re hosting or not, must be registered before advertising or taking bookings. Get ready to join the official club!
- Perth planning approval: Un-hosted STRAs operating for more than 90 nights in the Perth metro area now need local government planning approval. Time to dot those i’s and cross those t’s!
- STRA Incentive Scheme: Got a property currently listed on Airbnb or Stayz? You could score a cool $10,000 by switching it to the long-term rental market for six months. Think you’re tempted?
Why the shakeup?
These reforms address growing concerns about short-stay impacts on housing availability and community character. The aim is to:
- Increase long-term rental supply: More properties returning to the traditional market could ease the squeeze on renters struggling to find a roof.
- Level the playing field: Fairer rules ensure responsible hosts aren’t disadvantaged by those operating outside the lines.
- Protect communities: Planning requirements in busy areas help regulate short-stay impacts on noise, parking, and local living.
What does this mean for you?
- Hosts: Register your properties, research planning requirements, and consider the incentive scheme – it could be a lucrative exit strategy!
- Renters: Keep an eye out for a potential influx of new long-term options, and maybe prepare for slightly less Airbnb competition when planning your next getaway.
- Everyone: Brace for a more regulated and potentially more balanced short-stay landscape in WA.
