Updated: 10/13/2021
The new statewide Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) planning policy announced by the government of New South Wales in April will go into effect on the 1st of November, 2021.
The policy follows the establishment of the Code of Conduct in late 2020, a new set of rules for the short-term rental accommodation (STRA) industry that aims to safeguard the interests of local communities while enabling homeowners to partake in the sharing economy.
The policy includes:
- A new definition for STRA, hosted STRA and non-hosted STRA (a new planning framework that is aligned with the Code of Conduct passed in late 2020.
- An exempt development pathway for hosted and non-hosted STRA, including a 180 day limit restriction for non-hosted STRA based on location.
- General requirements for short-term rental accommodation, including the need for the premises to be officially registered as such.
- Fire safety standards for short-term rental properties, namely the presence of smoke alarms and evacuation diagrams.
The planning framework
The planning framework outlines exempt development pathways for hosted and non-hosted short-term rental accommodations.
Hosted properties refer to accommodations with a live-in host. These are eligible for short-term renting 365 days a year.
Non-hosted accommodations are properties hosted by a party or company that does not reside on the premises.
These accommodations are subject to a restriction of 180 days of short-term renting in the following locations:
- Greater Sydney (not including the Central Coast)
- Ballina LGA
- Bega Valley LGA
- Byron Bay LGA*
- Dubbo Regional LGA
- City of Newcastle LGA
Reservations that surpass 21 consecutive days are exempt from this limit and thus do not count toward the 180 day cap.
*Hosts within the Byron Shire Local Government Area should note that given its complex nature when it comes to short-term rental accommodation, the policy will only come into effect on the 31st of January in 2022.
The STRA Register
As stated in the Code of Conduct, anyone wishing to rent out short-term accommodations must register on the STRA register before the 1st of November. To register, you must provide proof of consent from the property owner and verify that the properties they manage are in compliance with the fire safety standards defined in the policy. Only properties with valid registration numbers will be eligible for distribution via OTAs. Hosts are required to pay a registration fee of $65 for the first 12 months and an annual renewal fee of $25.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Registering Your Accommodation
- Visit NSW Government’s Planning Portal
- Register an account — you can log in using your Service NSW account — in the portal and log in to complete the online registration form
- Click New > STRA Registration
- From there, fill out the registration form and complete the attestations
- Pay the registration fee of $65 and submit your application
- *Your registration will need to be renewed annually in the NSW Government’s Planning Portal
New STRA Policy FAQs
What Kinds of Dwellings Count as Short-Term Rental Accommodation?
All lawfully constructed dwellings that are permitted to be used as residential accommodation in all land-use zones can be used for short-term rental. Typical residential accommodation dwelling types include:
- a dwelling house (free-standing house), an attached dwelling, or a semi-detached dwelling
- a dual occupancy
- multi-dwelling housing
- a residential flat (such as a unit in a block of flats)
- a secondary dwelling (such as a granny flat)
- housing above shops.
What Kinds of Dwellings Are Not Permitted?
The following dwellings are not considered short-term rental accommodation under the new rules:
- boarding houses
- seniors’ housing
- rural workers’ dwellings
- group homes
- hostels
- refuge or crisis accommodation
- build-to-rent housing
- co-living housing
- Moveable dwellings: caravans, tents, or glamping accommodation.
Can I Sync My Registration Number to My Vrbo Listings via Guesty?
Yes, here’s how:
- Sign in to your Guesty account
- In the top menu, click Listings
- Click the relevant listing
- In the listing’s menu, click Property
- Scroll down to the “Property License” section
- Under “License number,” enter the property registration number
- Click Save
- To make sure the property registration number is updated in Vrbo, make another change in a different section under the “Property” tab to trigger the system to send an update to Vrbo. For example, select an amenity that syncs with Vrbo under “Amenities”
- Click Save
- To make sure that only the property registration number is sent in the update, and not this additional change, change it back to its original state
- Click Save
Can I Sync My Registration Number to My Booking.com Listings via Guesty?
Yes, here’s how:
- Sign in to your Guesty account
- In the top menu, click Listings
- Click the relevant listing
- In the listing’s menu, click Property
- Scroll down to the “Property License” section
- Under “License number,” enter the property registration number
- Click Save
Can I Sync My Registration Number to My Airbnb Listings via Guesty?
Currently, no. To add your registration number to your Airbnb listings, you will need to perform the following tasks:
- Once you receive your registration number, go to your Airbnb Host account page
- Click on your listing Policies and rules > Laws and regulations > Regulations
- Add the number you received in the registration number field
- Click Save
Our Guesty support team is at your service to help you add your registration number to your Airbnb listings.
For More Information
More details regarding the new statewide policy, including the new online STRA Register and fire safety standard, can be found by visiting the Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment website.
As always, your friends at Guesty Australia are happy to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to shoot me a note at [email protected].
*This is an updated version of an April 13th, 2021 blog post titled “New South Wales, Australia: New Provisions for Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA)
Disclaimer: This article provides a short summary of the new NSW regulations, however, property managers are encouraged to read in full all regulations applicable to their managed properties. Guesty does not take responsibility for the compliance with regulations or to the completeness and accuracy of any summary or article relating to regulations and encourages all property managers to review and comply with all country, state, and city regulations.
