Unlocking WA: Navigating the New Era of Short-Term Rentals for Apartment Owners

Important changes are on the horizon for the Short-Term Rental Accommodation

(STRA) landscape in Western Australia, and it could send waves through the strata sector in the state. Whether you’re hosting in the heart of Perth or up in Karratha, these updates have the potential to flip the script on the future of short stays.

What is STRA?

You might not be aware, but the state government is quietly in the process of progressing the legislation in the STRA space, aiming to improve the regulation and management of the sector, and minimise its impact on the wider housing market.

In short, STRA refers to the practice of an owner renting out their property for a relatively short period of time, usually booked through online platforms for travellers and others seeking temporary lodging. Properties can include anything from standalone homes, hotels or notably, apartments.

In fact, one of the most important areas under the spotlight of these changes is strata properties. It’s no secret that in recent years the surge of booking platforms like Airbnb and Stayz have sparked heated debates in strata communities, specifically about the impact of short-term rentals internally on other residents and owners, and externally on Western Australia’s housing supply and critical industries.

What are the proposed changes?

There are several important planning and registration changes proposed by the state government, seeking to implement a more consistent set of rules across WA.

Registration Scheme: The most notable change proposed by the WA Government is the implementation of a registration scheme for short-term rental accommodation properties. The STRA register will collect information on properties, to assist the state government in informing policy and regulatory decisions.

Planning Requirements: Whilst the changes will not include caps on STRA properties, there will be new planning requirements based on the type of STRA property that is being offered:

Management Plans

Local Governments may individually require STRA applicants to prepare management plans to address potential impacts of STRA in communal spaces and properties (like noise,

waste management, complaints, parking etc.), alongside the preparation of protocols in the event of an emergency.

Although this requirement will be subject to each individual jurisdiction, a management plan could be implemented as a condition of approval.

With the new proposed rules in play, the balancing act between the rights of individual

property owners and the collective interests of strata communities takes centre stage, promising both challenges and opportunities in navigating the evolving dynamics of short-term rental accommodations within strata settings.

If you’d like more information on these changes, please visit wa.gov.au/STRA-initiatives.

Timeline changes

The implementation of the STRA legislation and register has been proposed to be implementaed via a staged approach through to 1 January 2026 as it goes through both Local Government and Parliamentary approvals.