South Australia will introduce a statewide register for short-stay accommodation, with properties listed through platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz set to come under greater oversight as the state considers its next steps for the sector.
The State Government confirmed the register on September 17th, with consultation now underway to determine exactly how it will operate, which properties will need to be included and whether further measures should accompany it.
A potential Code of Conduct is also being considered, including measures designed to address issues such as noise, unauthorised parties and other impacts on neighbours and local communities.
The move comes amid an ongoing debate over the relationship between the growing short-stay accommodation sector and South Australia’s long-term rental market.
A State Parliament inquiry into the sector last year found short-stay accommodation had played a role in rental affordability pressures, but said the extent of that impact was difficult to determine because South Australia did not have reliable central data showing how many properties were operating as short stays or their occupancy rates. Establishing a statewide register was among the inquiry’s recommendations.
The register is intended to provide the government with a clearer picture of the sector and information that could be used when considering future policies around housing supply, tourism and neighbourhood amenity.
Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Michael Brown said, “Every South Australian deserves access to an affordable and secure home, and our government is continuing to take action to address the pressures in the rental market.
“Establishing a register of short-term rental accommodation is the next step in our once-in-a-generation reforms to protect tenants and address the rental shortage.
“We need to consider the impact of short-stay accommodation on our state’s long-term rental supply, and a register will help us to get the balance right.”
Consultation will include major booking platforms Airbnb and Stayz, as well as the wider community and industry.
Among the questions being considered are whether the register should be publicly accessible, which types of properties should be covered, who should oversee it, how short-stay properties should be managed and whether a uniform Code of Conduct should apply.
The parliamentary inquiry, established in February 2025, examined housing affordability alongside the tourism and economic benefits of the sector, neighbourhood impacts and regulatory systems used interstate and overseas.
Its recommendations included mandatory data reporting, a statewide register, a Code of Conduct, minimum safety standards and consideration of fees or levies. The government’s current consultation does not mean all of those recommendations will necessarily be adopted.
The government has also agreed to support a Greens amendment relating to stamp duty exemptions for residential properties used as short-stay accommodation.
Greens MLC Robert Simms, who chaired the parliamentary inquiry, said, “Regulation of the sector will bring SA into line with other jurisdictions, improve conduct and provide valuable information to inform government policy.”
For now, the exact design and requirements of South Australia’s new short-stay register remain to be determined, with feedback from the current consultation to inform how the system is ultimately implemented.
