🦘 STRisker Australia (1)
Stay informed on the short-term rental changes sweeping across Australia. From major city policies to local council updates, we cover the shifts shaping the future of hosting. 🏘️
Stay informed on the short-term rental changes sweeping across Australia. From major city policies to local council updates, we cover the shifts shaping the future of hosting. 🏘️
Australians listing their homes on Airbnb are being urged to take tax compliance seriously, with experts warning that even casual hosting can come with unexpected tax consequences.
According to H&R Block’s Mark Chapman, one of the most common missteps is failing to report short-term rental income at all, despite the ATO receiving direct data from Airbnb and similar platforms. That oversight can trigger audits or official warnings.
Additionally, hosts renting out part of their primary residence risk losing a portion of their capital gains tax exemption when they sell, as income-generating use can make part of the gain taxable.
ACT Government
The ACT Government has introduced a new Bill that will impose a 5% levy on bookings for un-hosted short-term rental accommodation (STRA), effective from July 1, 2025.
Track the bill here
Announced as part of the 2024–25 Budget, the levy applies only to bookings of 28 days or fewer that are made through booking services, with booking platforms responsible for remitting the charge. Hosted accommodation, direct bookings, and traditional lodging like hotels and caravan parks are exempt
Western Australia
WA’s rental crisis is fueling calls for stronger action on short-term rentals even as the state begins enforcing its new STRA registration system.
Since January, over 10,800 STRs have registered. Still, housing advocates like Shelter WA say the scale of short-term listings continues to outpace progress on returning homes to the long-term rental market.
CEO Kath Snell wants the government’s 2026 compliance deadline pulled forward arguing that current incentives including a $10,000 payment to convert STRs haven’t delivered large-scale results—only 332 homes have shifted since launch.
With the Perth rental vacancy rate still below 2%, Snell sees stricter limits as essential.
South Australia
The South Australian Legislative Council established a Select Committee to examine the short-stay accommodation sector, focusing on its role in the rental affordability crisis and its broader social and economic impacts on communities.
The Committee explored potential regulatory approaches, reviewed effective models from other regions, and considered tax or levy options on short-term rentals and long-term vacant properties. It also looked into incentives for homeowners to shift properties from short-term rentals to the long-term market, and other strategies to activate vacant residential housing
Airbnb’s formal response to the South Australian Short Stay Accommodation Sector Inquiry underscores its commitment to partnering with government on sensible regulations that foster sustainable growth of the short-term rental market.
The submission proposes implementing a state-wide registration and conduct code system to enhance transparency and enforcement, modeled after New South Wales’ framework. It points to the significant economic contributions of short-term rentals, including $710 million in guest spending and thousands of supported jobs.
Airbnb also warns against draconian measures like bans or caps, citing examples where such policies have failed to alleviate housing issues, and calls for thorough consultation and impact assessments on any new rules to protect the sector’s benefits for tourism and local hosts.
Busselton, WA
The City of Busselton is progressing with updates to Local Planning Policy 4.1 (LPP4.1) which guides approvals for Unhosted Short-Term Rental Accommodation (previously called Holiday Homes).
After initial consultation in January 2025, the Council reviewed feedback and decided in March to re-advertise the draft policy with key modifications including designating a new non-preferred area for STRAs in Geographe, enhancing public consultation by requiring notice to nearby properties, and tightening operational management rules like mandating a 12-hour unautomated manager response and no guests after 10 pm.
The policy now also incorporates a bushfire emergency plan prepared by qualified practitioners and introduces renewal approvals at 12 months, three years, and five years.
City of Vincent, WA
The City of Vincent is progressing updates to its short-term rental rules and is currently seeking community input on proposed changes to Local Planning Scheme No. 2 and its Short-Term Rental Accommodation Policy.
Key components include defining preferred STRA zones, clarifying required documentation for planning applications, setting operational standards, and establishing a minimum stay requirement for unhosted STRAs.
Both proposals were endorsed for consultation in February 2025, and residents have until 4pm on 23 June 2025 to provide feedback via the Imagine Vincent platform.
Unley, SA
In a bid to ease pressure on long-term rental housing and close a regulatory gap, Unley Council has proposed reclassifying short-term rental accommodation properties as commercial in its 2025–26 draft budget.
The move targets properties largely used for STRA platforms such as Airbnb, which currently benefit from lower residential council rates despite functioning like businesses. If adopted, the reclassification would see rates jump from $1797 to roughly $4611 per year for a $1 million property—aligning with the commercial rate, which was 2.57 times higher than residential in 2024–25.
In collaboration with the insights shared by Keiran Craig-Jones, the director of the Australia Short-Term Accommodation Association Australia, this article brings together key updates and information about Australia's Short-term rental landscape.
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