Housing Opportunities

New Planning Reforms Could Open the Door to More Housing Opportunities

The WA Government has announced a series of proposed planning reforms aimed at making it easier to build new homes and increase housing supply across the state.

While the changes are not expected to come into effect until next year, they could provide more opportunities for property owners and investors over the coming years.

More Properties Could Be Eligible for Subdivision

One of the biggest proposed changes is a reduction in the minimum lot size required to subdivide some residential properties.

If approved, owners of certain 700sqm blocks zoned R20 and below may be able to subdivide their land. Under the current rules, many of these properties require at least 900sqm.

For some property owners, this could create new opportunities to build an additional home, sell part of their land, or add another investment property.

Simpler Approval Process for Smaller Projects

The reforms also aim to make the planning process quicker for straightforward residential projects.

Projects such as:

Building a single home
Home renovations
Patios
Carports

may no longer require planning approval, helping reduce delays and unnecessary paperwork.

What This Could Mean for Landlords

While these changes won’t affect the market overnight, they may create more opportunities for landlords over time.

Some property owners may choose to:

Build an additional dwelling on their land
Create a new rental property
Increase the long-term value and potential of their investment

As more homes are built in established suburbs, tenants could also benefit from having a greater choice of rental properties in well-connected areas.

Any Impact Will Take Time

Although these reforms have attracted plenty of attention, they are still in the proposal stage.

Even after they are introduced, new housing takes time to plan, approve and build. It could be several years before any noticeable increase in housing supply is seen across the market.

Not every eligible property owner will choose to subdivide, so changes are expected to happen gradually rather than all at once.

Looking Ahead

Western Australia continues to face strong demand for housing, and increasing supply remains one of the biggest challenges.

If these reforms move ahead, they could provide more flexibility for property owners while supporting the delivery of new homes over the long term. Although the benefits won’t be immediate, they may help create more housing options for buyers, renters, and investors as the market continues to grow.