2024-12-10
In a balance of power situation, the Greens (WA) will push for a 90-day cap on entire homes listed on short-term rental sites like AirBnB, freeing up thousands of homes for people to live in now.
The Greens WA have been calling on the Cook Labor government to stop tinkering around the edges and introduce regulations that will actually help to fix this housing crisis, including:
- An annual 90-day limit on entire-home short-stays;
- powers for owner’s corporations in apartment buildings to ban or limit short stays; and
- a 7.5% investor levy on entire homes to generate additional revenue for building social and affordable homes.
Perth has the highest median occupancy rate for AirBnB in Australia at 84% - or around 307 nights per year - at an average daily rate of $170, netting a typical host almost $50,000 per year.
Greens WA Housing spokesperson Tim Clifford said a 90-day cap could return at least 3,000 homes to the private rental market while an investor levy would generate extra revenue for building social and affordable homes.
Lines attributable to Greens (WA) Housing spokesperson and Legislative Council candidate, Tim Clifford:
“Property investors are hoarding homes to use as hotels and make exorbitant profits on AirBnB while renters struggle to find a place to live.”
“While the Cook Labor government has tinkered around the edges for the last four years, rents in WA are at an all-time high, homelessness is at crisis levels and a whole generation has given up the dream of being able to afford their own home.”
“We need bold reform to fix the housing crisis, not smoke and mirrors.”
“That’s why the Greens are announcing strong short-stay regulations, which would free up at least 3,000 homes as long-term private rentals which would help to ease the pressure on the rental market.”
“In the interim, a 7.5% investor levy on entire homes listed as short-stay accommodation would generate millions in extra revenue to build more social and affordable homes the community desperately needs.”
Lines attributable to Greens (WA) MLC, Dr Brad Pettitt:
“There are more than 10,500 entire homes listed on AirBnB across WA; homes that could be made available for WA renters who are struggling to find affordable, secure housing.”
“In Fremantle, where I live, there are nearly ten times more homes listed on AirBnB today as there are private rentals and this is at the heart of the problem, not just in Freo but in urban centres right across the state.”
“The Cook Labor government’s STRA incentive scheme has returned just 276 properties to the private rental market since it was introduced, at a cost of nearly $3 million.”
“In that same time, 330 new properties have been listed on AirBnB; a net loss of housing in the middle of a housing crisis!”
“Major cities around the world - like Berlin, Amsterdam and London - have introduced caps on short stays to stop investors from snapping up homes just to put them on AirBnB – it’s time for Western Australia to do the same.”
“The Greens’ plan would free up more homes for renters and owner-occupiers now, and help to ease pressure on the housing crisis, while we get on and build more social and affordable homes.”
Quotes attributable to Greens (WA) Social Justice spokesperson and Legislative Council candidate, Sophie McNeill:
“We are proud to launch this policy today on December 10, on what is internationally recognised as Human Rights Day.”
“Housing is a fundamental human right, but for too long the major parties have prioritised housing as an investment opportunity, rather than the human right that it is.”
“This will be a tough Christmas for a growing number of West Australians who simply cannot find a place to call home; who are crashing at a friend's house, who've had to move back in with their parents, or who are forced to live out of their cars.”
“There are also thousands of families across this state whose Christmas celebrations will be curtailed because of the massive rent hikes they've had forced upon them throughout this year, as WA experiences the highest rental increases in the whole country.”
“Only the Greens have the policies that will help increase the number of houses on the market that can become homes - not just short term accommodation investment opportunities.”
“We demand that the Cook government adopt these measures to ensure the right of families to have a roof over their heads is prioritised over investors making big bucks off AirBnB.”