Tighter holiday rental regulations to give government idea of short-term accommodation pressures

New laws on short-term rentals are set to increase regulation on the industry in a move welcomed by housing groups. Under new State Government legislation, a register of holiday rentals will be introduced by mid-2024. Listings would need to sign up to the Statewide program operated by Consumer Protection before being listed or advertised. Those already on the market will have until the start of 2025 to register and until 2026 to show evidence of compliance with local planning requirements. Make Renting Fair Alliance spokesperson Chantal Caruso said the legislation was a good first step. “The register is a great first step and will bring much needed transparency to the short-term rental market,” she said. “For the first time, we’ll be able to see exactly how many rentals are being made available, who is letting them and where they are. “It’s a really great first step just in terms of transparency, and to get a really full picture of the size of the problem. “At the moment, we’re a little bit in the dark and we’re relying on the industry to tell us.” Another change made by the Government introduced late last year included updating planning approval requirements for unhosted short-term rental accommodation outside of Perth. Unlike the metro area’s blanket threshold of homes booked for 90 days in a year needing to apply for a planning approval, a decision on whether regional listings needed planning approval will be left for local governments based on the needs of the community. This will only apply to unhosted properties where the owners do not live on the site, and hosted properties will not need planning approval. Commerce Minister Sue Ellery said the changes struck the right balance between the tourism industry and regulation. “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,” she said. “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.”