Issue Date:  -  Thursday, 21 October 2004

Bond snatching landlord convicted

After indicating he would strongly defend Department charges under the Residential Tenancies Act, multiple-landlord Rolf Gerard Voulon (42) of Florence Street West Perth switched his ‘not guilty’ plea to ‘guilty’ one and a half hours before his trial was due to commence today.

Mr Voulon and his company Biltrad Global Investment Corporation Pty Ltd faced court on charges of failing to lodge a tenant’s bond money in either a joint trust account or with the Department of Consumer & Employment Protection’s Bond Administrator, failing to provide a receipt for bond money paid and failing to provide the tenant with a copy of a fully executed lease agreement.

The tenant also had a drawn out battle, over a number of years, to have her Bond money returned.

Magistrate Malone convicted Mr Voulon and his company on all charges and handed down a total fine of $1,500 and costs of $1,263.70

“Tenants are entitled to fair treatment by landlords and on this occasion when Mr Voulon took more than a thousand dollars from a young lady without following correct procedures, he committed an offence”, Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

“This matter dates back to 2001 and includes Mr Voulon defying a Local Court order to repay the tenant $826.70 in Bond money and court costs.

“After numerous approaches and warnings from this Department and legal action threatened by a community legal service on behalf of the tenant, Mr Voulon finally paid the court ordered amount in August of this year.

“Mr Voulon’s attitude towards his tenant and the law is unacceptable, with the penalties he has received reflecting the community’s distaste for such behaviour”, Commissioner Walker said.

Consumers requiring advice or assistance about landlords should telephone 1300 30 40 54 or email consumer@docep.wa.gov.au