With the rental vacancies rate now below 1 per cent, could the WA Government pay Airbnb owners to make their properties available on the long-term rental market?

Bradley Woods, Australian Hotels Association WA told Oliver Peterson on Perth Livethat considering the large number of airbnb listings, an opportunity does exist in creating more long-term airbnb listings.

"It may well assist not only the housing shortage, but help tourism regions who can't find accomodation for their staff, to provide additional resources and accomodation for them," he told Oly.

With 120,000 Airbnb listings in WA, Oly asked whether an incentive could be offered to encourage Airbnb owners to convert their listing into long-term rentals.

"Whilst there is no regulation around Airbnb type accomodation in the short stay market, there is no incentive and encouragement to stabilise that," Mr Woods said.

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