Home buyer / owner

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Are you bush fire ready?

Western Australia has some of the driest climatic regions in Australia and is prone to bush fire attack, particularly around the south west regions. In the past few years there have been numerous fire events that have devastated bushland areas and destroyed or damaged properties. Building and...
Building in bush fire prone areas
22 Jan 2014

Having plumbing work done

Only a plumber who holds a licence issued by the Plumbers Licensing Board can legally carry out water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing work in Western Australia. Licensing plumbers reduces risks to public health, safety and the environment by ensuring they are competent and sufficiently...
Having plumbing work done
13 Jan 2014

Swimming, spa and portable pools

General information The Building Regulations 2012 (the Regulations) requires all private swimming and spa pools that contain water that is more than 300mm deep to have a compliant safety barrier installed that restricts access by young children to the pool and its immediate surrounds. In Western...
Swimming pools and spas
13 Jan 2014

Sustainability in the built environment

A sustainable building industry will balance environmental, social and economic issues to ensure a viable and valuable industry for future generations. The building industry includes developing, planning, designing, building, altering, or maintaining the built environment. The manufacturers,...
Sustainability
13 Jan 2014

European House Borer

What is the European House Borer? The European House Borer (EHB) is a destructive pest that targets seasoned coniferous timber including pine, fir and spruce. If allowed to become established it can cause major structural damage to buildings. The adult beetle lays its eggs into cracks, holes and...
European House Borer
13 Jan 2014

Dividing fences

The Dividing Fences Act 1961 (the Act) combines with local government by-laws to regulate the erection and maintenance of dividing fences in Western Australia. The Act provides a process for sharing costs between neighbours, the determination of boundaries and a mechanism for courts to deal with...
Dividing fences
13 Jan 2014

Building or renovating your home

Most people’s biggest investment is their home, so it is important that your contract to build or renovate goes smoothly. Resolving disputes can be costly, both personally and financially. Building and Energy has a responsibility to ensure that consumers have confidence in the building, building...
Building or renovating your home
13 Jan 2014

Building service and home building work contract complaints

As part of its function, Building and Energy provides an avenue for both consumers and builders to resolve disputes relating to the carrying out of regulated building services and home building work contracts. These services are provided to parties as an alternative to the commencement of court...
Building service and home building contract complaints
07 Jan 2014

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Announcements

Agent alert issued following real estate fraud in ACT (Joint statement with WA Police and Landgate)

WA authorities have warned real estate and settlement agents to be on high alert following the reported real estate fraud in the ACT. Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll believes the criminals responsible will be encouraged by their success to make further fraud attempts. “Everyone in the property industry, particularly those involved in property management and sales, should have a...
Consumer Protection
Media release
24 Jul 2014

Renewed warning about dodgy tradesman (Christopher Brocklebank)

Consumer Protection has issued another warning about a rogue tradesman who continues to take substantial deposits from consumers but fails to carry out or complete the work. Christopher Brocklebank of Woodvale, trading as Perth Evaporative Air & Gas Services and Elements ‘Hearth, Wind and Fire’ of Wangara, was due to face a trial in the Perth Magistrates Court in early July on seven charges...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Jul 2014

Paving company penalised over false MBA membership (Repave Spray-On Paving, Peter Vukmirovic)

A Scarborough paving company and its Director have been ordered to pay a total of $20,000 in penalties after admitting to falsely advertising that the business was a member of the Master Builders Association (MBA). Realgold Corporation Pty Ltd, trading as Repave Spay-On Paving, and its sole Director Peter Vukmirovic were each ordered to pay a penalty of $10,000 by the District Court on 24 April...
Building and Energy
Department News
29 Apr 2014

Review of Construction Contracts Act signed off

A key piece of legislation that supports security of payment in Western Australia’s building and construction industry will be reviewed this year. Building Commissioner Peter Gow today announced that Professor Philip Evans of Curtin University has been appointed to review the Construction Contracts Act 2004 . “The Construction Contracts Act is part of a suite of new building legislation...
Building and Energy
Media release
10 Jun 2014

Warning issued on dangerous solar isolating switches

Energy Safety has issued a public warning about dangerous switches used in some solar systems installed since January 1, 2012. Director of Energy Safety Ken Bowron said today the switches formed part of all solar photo-voltaic installations. “They are used to disconnect the current produced by solar panels so electricians can work safely on the electrical installation of a home or business,” Mr...
Media release
21 May 2014

Deregulating settlement agent and land valuer fees

Consumer Protection is calling for community and industry comment on a proposal to deregulate the fees charged by settlement agents and land valuers in WA. Currently WA is the only state to fix a maximum amount that settlement agents and land valuers can charge for their services. There are currently about 660 licensed settlement agents and 840 licensed land valuers in WA. Acting Commissioner for...
Consumer Protection
Media release
13 May 2014

Arrest in Nigeria over real estate fraud attempt in Australia

A man has been arrested in Nigeria in connection with the attempted fraudulent sale of a home in Western Australia. Ntuen Promise EKENMINI was apprehended by Nigerian authorities yesterday when he attended an international courier office and attempted to collect documents with a forged driver’s licence in the name of the South African home owner. The documents related to a supposed settlement of...
Consumer Protection
Media release
15 Aug 2013

High alert for property industry after more fraud attempts

The property industry in WA has been warned to be on high alert after recent attempts by overseas criminals to fraudulently sell two WA homes. In separate incidents, real estate agents were approached by fraudsters who successfully changed the contact details of the real owners of the properties, who both lived in South Africa. Copies of documents related to the management of the properties were...
Consumer Protection
Media release
06 Feb 2013

Open, shut them

Should you open or close your house to keep cool in a heatwave? Senior Research Fellow at Queensland University of Technology, Wendy Miller, covers this hot topic in her article How to keep your house cool in a heatwave on The Conversation website. Wendy then explains how the design and construction of a home has a bearing on its inside temperature and can even eliminate the desire for an air...
Building and Energy
Department News
16 Jan 2014

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