Premier Mark McGowan flags new Airbnb regulations amid chronic rental property shortage

The McGowan Government is considering cracking down on Airbnb as renters struggle to secure a property in WA’s super-tight market. REIWA figures for February show a 0.8 per cent vacancy rate in Geraldton — decrease on 1.5 per cent in December. Meanwhile, the Inside Airbnb website — founded by Australian Murray Cox to highlight the growing number of homes on the platform — shows a whopping 10,485 properties on offer around the State, with 98.6 per cent short-term rentals. In Geraldton, the REIWA website showed just 14 properties for rent on Monday, while Inside Airbnb had 158 listings. Premier Mark McGowan said “that’s a big call” when asked on Sunday if an outright ban on the service would be considered. “We’re looking at regulating Airbnb . . . and we expect to be introducing rules in the coming year or two,” Mr McGowan told reporters. “Obviously, a lot of people have made business decisions in terms of their investments in regards to Airbnb. “And it obviously means that a lot of tourists who come to Western Australia . . . use Airbnb to stay, so it’s a bit of a vexed question. “What we’re we’re looking at is certain limits on how long you can run an Airbnb without council approval if it’s not on your actual home site . . . if it’s not the studio at the back. “But that’s something that will come out over the coming months.” The State Government is already considering limiting the number of nights a year an investment property can be rented as short stay accommodation. Barcelona halted the granting of new licenses for Airbnbs years ago in a bid to make buying and renting homes more affordable for locals, a move that Portugal followed last month.