Consumer

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Becoming an owner-builder To become an owner-builder, you must first obtain owner-builder approval from the Building Services Board, and then a building permit from your local government. The process and related form to become an owner-builder was amended in March 2023 to streamline determination...
Becoming an owner-builder
Responsibilities Before taking on a building project as an owner-builder you should be aware that owner-builders take on many of the responsibilities of a registered builder. These responsibilities include: complying with all building standards including the Building Code of Australia and safety...
Responsibilities
If you are thinking about owner-building your own home or small commercial building, you will need to have been granted owner-builder approval from the Building Services Board before you can be granted a building permit from your local government authority. Owner-builder approvals can only be...
Responsibilities
This information applies to construction contracts entered into before 1 August 2022. For contracts entered into on or after 1 August 2022 see the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 webpages. Practice directions Confidentiality A prescribed appointor must keep...
Information for prescribed appointors
Multiple pricing occurs when a supplier displays more than one price for the same item or service. If a supplier displays the same item with more than one price then they must sell it for the lowest displayed price or withdraw the item until the price is corrected. A price published in a catalogue...
Pricing
Consumer Protection often receives complaints about incorrect rounding of prices by retail and fast food outlets. There are rules in place for businesses when it comes to dealing with small change transactions and we’d like to hear from customers who believe those rules are being broken. In...
Pricing
Country of origin labelling is a notice or label on products to let your customers know what country a product came from. In Australia misleading country of origin labelling is prohibited. If you sell food in retail stores in Australia, country of origin food labelling laws apply to your products...
Advertising and promotion
Unconscionable conduct is a statement or action so unreasonable it defies good conscience. A business must not act unconscionably when: selling or supplying goods and services to a consumer; or supplying or acquiring goods and services to or from a small business. Examples of unconscionable conduct...
Advertising and promotion
It is unlawful to make false or misleading representations about goods and services when supplying, offering to supply or promoting those goods or services. For instance, a business must not make false or misleading representations about: the standard, quality, value or grade of goods or services;...
Advertising and promotion
What is misleading or deceptive conduct? ‘Conduct’ includes actions and statements, such as: advertisements; promotions; quotations; statements; and any representation made by a person. Business conduct is likely to break the law if it creates a misleading overall impression among the intended...
Advertising and promotion

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Publications

This information applies to construction contracts entered into before 1 August 2022. For contracts entered into on or after 1 August 2022 see the Building and Construction Industry (Security of...
Building and Energy
Form – application
28 Jul 2022
This form is to be submitted to the Complaints Branch of Building and Energy where a party to a complaint wants to be represented by another person in a conciliation hearing.
Building and Energy
Form – notification
03 Dec 2018
This is the approved form for lodgement of a disciplinary complaint about a registered building service provider or approved owner-builder under section 15 of the Building Services (Complaint...
Building and Energy
Form – application
12 May 2023
Proforma notice of proposed complaint under the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Regulations 2011 .
Building and Energy
Form – notification
23 Oct 2018
Application for Modification or Non-Application of Building Standard
Building and Energy
Form – application
04 Jul 2016
Application to extend time – occupancy permit or building approval certificate
Building and Energy
Form – application
14 May 2014
Application to extend a building or demolition permit
Building and Energy
Form – application
14 May 2014
22 October 2021 is the current version of the Notice and request for consent (response notice): Protection structures, party walls, removal of fences, access to land
Building and Energy
Form – application
23 Aug 2022
22 October 2021 is the current version of the Notice and request for consent to encroach or adversely affect
Building and Energy
Form – application
23 Aug 2022
14 April 2021 current version Certificate of building compliance
Building and Energy
Form – application
30 Apr 2021

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Announcements

Being contacted out of the blue by a business wanting to sell you something is a scenario many consumers will be familiar with. Whether it’s a knock at the front door from a salesperson, or unsolicited text messages, phone calls and emails, it may help to know there are strict rules surrounding how businesses are allowed to contact you. When it comes to door-to-door salespeople, there are...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Jun 2022
Unlicensed dealer ordered to pay more than $9,000 in fines and costs 13 vehicles sold illegally over a 16 month period Public plea for community to help stop backyard vehicle trading A man who bought and sold vehicles from his Marangaroo home without a licence has been ordered to pay a total of $9,262.50 in fines and costs by the Joondalup Magistrate Court. Hussain Al Hussein was fined $3,800 and...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Jun 2022
Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today it is likely motorists will have to wait for two weeks before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 1 June 2022), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 23 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
31 May 2022
The State Government has approved four extra hours of trading for general retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area on each of the upcoming public holidays, WA Day and the Queen’s Birthday. The extension to permitted opening times means general retail shops will be able to trade any time between 8am and 6pm on Monday, 6 June 2022 (WA Day) and Monday, 26 September 2022 (Queen’s Birthday). The...
Consumer Protection
Media release
27 May 2022
WA building sector impacted by worldwide shortages and rising costs Information for consumers facing delays, cost increases and other challenges Resources available at the Building and Energy website (dmirs.wa.gov.au) WA’s building regulator has developed helpful information to assist consumers affected by current challenges in the home building sector, including impacts on project timeframes and...
Building and Energy
Media release
26 May 2022
Backyard dealer fined $8,000 for no licence and false odometer readings Two deceived buyers to receive $2,500 in compensation Potential buyers urged to be skeptical of vehicles with unusually low kilometres Buying and selling vehicles without a licence and deceiving two buyers about odometer readings have resulted in a Yokine woman being ordered to pay a total of $17,400 in fines, consumer...
Consumer Protection
Media release
26 May 2022
Welcoming a new pet into your family is an exciting time, so the last thing you’d want to discover after bringing the animal home is any unexpected issues or problems. An emotional bond has likely formed that could make an exchange or refund out of the question, while a ‘repair’ could equate to expensive vet bills and a dispute with the seller. Unfortunately, issues with pet purchases are on the...
Consumer Protection
Media release
25 May 2022
Only registered painters can legally carry out paid painting work over $1,000 Consumers are encouraged to check the Register of Painters Building and Energy has received 59 complaints about painting work this financial year Following recent action by Building and Energy, consumers are reminded that painters must be registered to carry out paid painting work valued at $1,000 or more. Painting...
Building and Energy
Media release
23 May 2022
Fire risk from several models of LG home energy storage batteries 450 of the recalled batteries are estimated to have been installed in WA Affected consumers should switch off the battery and contact LG or SolaX WA’s electrical and product safety regulators are alerting consumers about a national recall of some LG-branded home energy storage batteries, which may overheat and ignite. Building...
Building and Energy / Consumer Protection
Media release
20 May 2022
When it comes time to move on a car or caravan, some people may lack the time or confidence to negotiate a private sale themselves. Engaging a dealer to sell the vehicle on their behalf can therefore be a viable option, but selling on consignment does come with some risk. Given the dealer can keep any money they receive from the sale in excess of the amount they agree to pay the owner, this has...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 May 2022

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