Since 1 January 2026, any short-stay property in WA that is not on the state STRA Register cannot legally be advertised or booked, and platforms like Airbnb and Stayz are required to check. If your Perth listing is live, confirm three things now: your registration is active, your registration number is displayed on every advertisement, and you are inside the 90-night planning threshold or hold council approval. Operating unregistered risks fines of up to $20,000.
This one is a straightforward compliance notice, but an important one, because the rule that took effect at the start of 2026 has real consequences and some owners still have not acted on it. Here is what changed, and the short checklist to make sure you are covered.
What changed on 1 January 2026
The WA Short-Term Rental Accommodation framework rolled out in stages. Registration on the STRA Register became mandatory on 1 January 2025. The step that took effect a year later, on 1 January 2026, is the one with teeth: a property that is not on the register can no longer be advertised or booked, full stop. Booking platforms are required to verify that WA listings carry a valid registration, so this is not a rule that relies on self-policing.
In practice, an unregistered Perth listing should now be unable to take bookings, and continuing to operate one exposes you to penalties of up to $20,000.
The three things to check today
If you have a live Perth short-stay, take five minutes and confirm all three.
1. Your registration is active
Log in to the STRA Register and confirm your property is registered and current. Registration is $250 initially and $100 to renew every 12 months. If your renewal has lapsed, you are effectively operating unregistered. Diarise the renewal date so it never lapses again.
2. Your registration number is displayed
Your STRA registration number must appear in a conspicuous, readily visible position on every advertisement, on every platform: Airbnb, Stayz, Booking.com, your own website, anywhere the property is promoted. The number on your listing must match the number on the register. A registered property with the number missing from the listing is still a compliance gap.
3. Your planning position is correct
If your property is unhosted and let for more than 90 nights a year in metro Perth, you need development approval from your local council. If you have been operating above 90 nights without it, that is a separate exposure from registration, and it needs addressing. Our WA STRA compliance guide explains the threshold and the approval process.
Quick reference
| Requirement | Status you want |
|---|---|
| STRA registration | Active and not lapsed |
| Registration number on every listing | Displayed and matching |
| Unhosted over 90 nights (metro) | Council approval held |
| Renewal date | Diarised so it can’t lapse |
Why this matters beyond the fine
The obvious risk is the penalty. The less obvious one is your income: if a platform suspends or delists an unregistered listing, you lose bookings immediately and the ranking you have built with it. Compliance is not just about avoiding a fine; it is about protecting the listing that earns you money.
There is a quiet upside too. With non-compliant supply being pushed out of the market, owners who are properly registered and running clean listings face less low-quality competition for the same guests.
The bottom line
The advertising ban is live. Check that your registration is active, your number is on every listing, and your planning position is sound. If you would rather never think about renewal dates or display rules again, keeping all of this current is part of our short-stay property management service. If you are not sure where you stand, get in touch and we will help you check.
This is general information current at the time of writing, not legal advice. Confirm your obligations with DLGIRS and your local council.