State Govt reforms for Short-Term Rental Accommodation

Published on Friday, 9 August 2024 at 2:47:57 PM

The Western Australian State Government is implementing new regulations to enhance the oversight and management of the Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) sector, and the Shire of Dardanup is encouraging residents to be informed of the changes and register their STRA properties.

STRA are premises that are rented out to guests for periods of less than three months in a calendar year, whether the owner lives in the property or not.

Shire President Cr Tyrrell Gardiner said the newly introduced Short-Term Rental Accommodation Bill 2024 was presented to State Parliament in February and establishes a comprehensive set of requirements to monitor and standardise STRA properties.

He said under the new regulations, property owners must register their STRA properties before advertising and accepting bookings, including online platforms. The STRA Register managed by the Department of Energy, Mining, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS), opened last month with all properties required to be registered by 1 January 2025.

If STRA owners register before October, they won’t pay the initial $250 registration fee. The cost to renew each year is anticipated to be about $100.

"The State Government's introduction of the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Bill 2024 is a significant step towards improving the regulation of short-term rentals across Western Australia,” Cr Gardiner said.

“The Shire is committed to supporting these statewide reforms by ensuring our residents are well-informed and compliant. We encourage all STRA property owners in our Shire to register their properties as soon as possible to align with the new regulations.”

Key elements of the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Bill 2024 include:

  • from 1 July 2024, the STRA registration system which will be administered by DEMIRS;
  • all STRA will need to be registered by 1 January 2025 and show compliance with the planning requirements by 1 January 2026;
  • the STRA Register will collect information on the STRA sector to inform policy and will provide information to the community about what STRA exists in an area;
  • the information provided to the STRA register will be available to Local Government Areas for checking;
  • DEMIRS will have powers to suspend or cancel a registration if the information is found to be false or misleading;
  • DEMIRS will have powers to investigate STRA providers who provide false or misleading information and take action in the Magistrates Court. Fines up to $20,000 as an individual or $100,000 as a corporation.

Additionally, the Department of Planning, Lands, and Heritage (DPLH) has prepared a position statement for Tourism and Short-Term Rental Accommodation to update definitions and provide greater guidance for Local Government. You can view the statement here: https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2023-11/position-statement-planning-for-tourism-2023_0.pdf

Cr Gardiner said all Local Governments will need to amend their Local Planning Schemes to include the new land use definitions for STRA, once they are introduced into the regulations by the State Government.

"These changes will ensure a more regulated and fair environment for all stakeholders in the short-term rental market,” Cr Gardiner said.

“The Shire of Dardanup will continue to support our residents through this transition and provide the necessary guidance to comply with the new state regulations."

For more information on the new STRA regulations and the registration process, residents are encouraged to contact the Department of Energy, Mining, Industry Regulation and Safey on 1300 30 40 54 or email stra.enquiries@dmirs.wa.gov.au

Click below buttons to register or find out more information:

Short-Term Rental Accommodation Register

Frequently Asked Questions

 The State Government is implementing new regulations to enhance the oversight and management of the Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) sector, and the Shire of Dardanup is encouraging residents to be informed of the changes and register their STRA properties. Photo courtesy of the WA Government website.

Caption: The State Government is implementing new regulations to enhance the
oversight and management of the Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) sector,
and the Shire of Dardanup is encouraging residents to be informed of the changes and
register their STRA properties. Photo courtesy of the WA Government website.


Shire of Dardanup media contact: Tahnia Creedon, Communications Officer | tahnia.creedon@dardanup.wa.gov.au | 0436 942 509.

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