Austrália Ocidental

Western Australia

It’s important for you to understand your local laws if you want to be an Airbnb host. We provide a platform and marketplace, but we don’t provide legal advice. However, we want to share some information to help you understand the main laws and other rules that relate to short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in Western Australia (WA). The information in this article isn’t exhaustive, but it should help you start your research on local laws.

Regulations and requirements

Short-term rentals in WA are regulated through:

• Legislation that requires all STRA hosts to register their listings with the State Government;
• State planning rules that impose a 90 night exemption limit for non-hosted STRA in the Perth Metropolitan area; and
• Local planning rules that may require you to adhere to local laws or obtain development approval to host.

Overview of host requirements

Below is an overview of requirements that may apply to hosts in Western Australia. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and you should consult the WA Government’s STRA website or your local government area for more information.

• From 1 January 2025, all providers of STRA, both hosted and non-hosted, must be registered with the State Government.
• From 1 January 2025, all non-hosted properties in the Perth Metropolitan area may offer STRA for 90 nights a year without requiring development approval. If you intend to host beyond 90 nights, you must seek approval from your local government area.

Registration

According to the WA Government, you must register your STRA property regardless of whether:

• Guests stay in your property with you (hosted) or stay by themselves (non-hosted).
• The property requires development approval.
• The property is currently exempt from planning approval (via a development application).

To register your listing with the State Government, you can follow these steps:

• Visit WA Government’s STRA Register website
• Register an account (you can log in using your Digital Identity) and log in to complete the online registration form.
• From there, fill out the registration form and complete the attestations
• Pay the registration fee of $150 and submit your application. Note: If you register before 1 December 2024 you will not be required to pay the initial registration fee.
• Once you receive your registration number, go to your Airbnb host account page.
• Click on your listing Preferences and scroll down to Regulations
• Complete the regulation requirement by adding the number you received from the WA Government in the registration field
• Click Save

Further guidance about the registration process, including FAQs, is available on the WA Government website. If you experience any issues during the renewal process, you should contact stra.enquiries@demirs.wa.gov.au.

Registration Renewal

Your registration will need to be renewed annually in the STRA Register. The timing of renewal will depend on the date you first registered your STRA listing. The annual fee is expected to be around $100. If you have multiple STRA properties, you will need to renew and provide payment for each property separately.

Further information on registration renewal will be provided when it becomes available.

Exemption Limit for Metropolitan Perth

From 1 January 2025, if your premises is in the Perth Metropolitan area, you do not need development approval unless you are sharing your listing for more than 90 nights each year. Should you wish to offer your listing for more than 90 nights, you should seek approval from your local government area.

Outside Metropolitan Perth

Outside the Perth Metropolitan area, it is up to your local government as to whether you need development approval. If you are unsure, we encourage you to reach out to your local government to find out more about your obligations.

Data sharing requirements

Under State legislation, Airbnb, alongside other booking platforms, will be required to provide information about hosting activities to the WA Government on a daily basis. If you are a host of an STRA listing, we ask that you be aware of this as you ensure you are hosting in accordance with applicable local laws and development approval requirements.

FAQ

How do I add my registration number to my Airbnb listing?

To add your STRA registration number to your existing Airbnb listing, follow these steps:

1. Once you receive your registration number, go to your Airbnb Host account page and to the Listings tab.
2. Click on the listing you need to add registration for, then click on the preferences icon.
3. Scroll down to the Regulations section.
4. Complete the regulation requirement by adding the number you received from the WA Government in the registration field, and click Save.

Your registration number will now appear on your listing.

What do I need to do if my property type is exempt from the rules?

Some types of properties may be exempt from the rules for short-term rental accommodation in Western Australia.

If you are currently hosting a listing which is exempt, you can update your listing following the steps below:

1. Login to your Airbnb Host account page and navigate to the Listings tab
2. Click on the listing you need to add the exemption for, then click on the Preferences icon
3. Scroll down to the Regulations section

If you are unsure about your property type and whether it needs to be registered, you should consult the WA Government’s website or consider obtaining further expert advice.