Home buyer / owner

Topics

Between July 2017 and June 2019, the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s Building and Energy division coordinated Western Australia’s State-wide Cladding Audit. The audit was part of an Australia-wide initiative to check the cladding on high-risk buildings following the...
Compliance and audit
Patricia Blake January 2023 - Current Patricia Blake (known as Trish) became Commissioner for Consumer Protection and Executive Director for Consumer Protection in January 2023. Prior to becoming Commissioner Trish has been the Director of Retail and Services within Consumer Protection and worked...
About us
The Building Commissioner commenced an independent audit of Yuanda-supplied building products in the WA construction industry, beginning with the Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) and products that may contain asbestos. Announced by Building Commissioner Peter Gow on 15 July 2016, the audit follows...
Compliance and audit
Go to the 'Search for a drainage plumbing diagram' website Click here for the search Drainage plumbing diagrams are regularly used by homeowners, licensed plumbing contractors and others to determine the layout of drainage plumbing on a property. Knowing the layout of drainage plumbing can assist...
Certificates and diagrams
Any reference to AS 3959 is to be taken as Australian Standard AS 3959:2018 – (Incorporating Amendment No. 1) – Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas as referenced in National Construction Code (NCC 2019). 1. What are the bush fire building requirements? The Building Act 2011 and...
Building in bush fire prone areas
Subscribe to Building and Energy's industry bulletins and newsletters to stay informed of: general industry trends; legislative changes; updates about registration and licensing; upcoming events and seminars; public consultations; and much more. Have you subscribed to news and updates? Sign up to...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
A person responsible for building or demolition work must ensure that the work does not affect land beyond the boundaries of the works land. However there may be the potential for this to occur in certain circumstances, for example where work is on small sized lots or where construction is close to...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
Lodging the application Applications for building, demolition or occupancy permits or for building approval certificates can be submitted in a variety of ways, including in person, by post or electronic lodgement depending on the systems the relevant permit authority has in place. Under the...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
Choosing the correct form To provide for consistency in building approvals throughout the state, all the relevant application forms, notices and compliance certificates are approved by the Building Commissioner and available on the Building and Energy website. Providing the correct application form...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA
In general a person must not carry out building work without a building permit where one is required. However the Building Act allows a person to make an application to the relevant permit authority to approve unauthorised building work in relation to a building and/or incidental structure. This...
A guide to the building approvals process in WA

Pages

Publications

Reforms to the building approval process for single residential buildings in Western Australia – Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement seeks comment on three options for reforming the building...
Building and Energy
Consultations / public comment
04 Dec 2023
The McGowan Government has announced improvements to the bush fire policy framework including changes to the Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas for 19 inner metropolitan local governments (from Stirling to...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
31 Jul 2019
Every year thousands of homes are constructed or renovated in Western Australia. While most building projects are completed successfully, occasionally there may be concerns or unmet expectations that...
Building and Energy
Guide / handbook
25 Nov 2019
The Western Australia guide to standards and tolerances 2019 (the Guide) has been developed for use by builders and building owners as a convenient reference for acceptable standards of workmanship...
Building and Energy
Guide / handbook
30 Jul 2019
A statutory review of the Act was undertaken to ensure that it is still applicable to the modern functioning of the architectural industry, reduce red tape where possible, and examine the...
Building and Energy
Reports
27 May 2019
Your home is usually your biggest investment, so it's worth doing your research before deciding who will undertake your building project. Undertaking a few practical checks at the start can help...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
20 Oct 2021
Propped open pool gates and faulty latches are a leading cause of drowning deaths in young children. It only takes seconds for a child to drown, so regularly check that the latch is working and never...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
20 Dec 2018
Will your child and your neighbours’ children be safe while your pool is under construction? Some types of pools need to be filled with water by the pool builder as part of the construction process...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
21 Dec 2018
Progress report This report is in response to recommendation 7 of the Ombudsman Western Australia (Ombudsman) report titled Investigation into ways to prevent or reduce deaths of children by drowning...
Building and Energy
Reports
18 Sep 2018
There are many types of portable pools, ranging from small plastic or inflatable paddling pools, specifically designed for young children, to larger more solid inflatable pools or flexible sided...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
11 Dec 2020

Pages

Announcements

Many areas of non-compliant building work including roof safety issues Disciplinary matters referred to the State Administrative Tribunal $25,000 fine for Ventura Home Group and $15,000 fine for Justayn Bean Ventura Home Group Pty Ltd (BC10805) and its former nominated supervisor, Justayn James Bean (BP13268), have been fined a total of $40,000 for inadequate management and supervision of eight...
Building and Energy
Media release
13 Jan 2022
Several defects found in construction of a two-storey house SAT mediation concludes with a $7,500 fine for lack of supervision Building company is now in administration A former building company supervisor has accepted a $7,500 fine at the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) for not properly overseeing work at a Busselton house where several faults were found. Jeremy Peter Evans (BP12715) was the...
Building and Energy
Media release
23 Dec 2021
Roof restorer ignored Building Commissioner’s order to rectify defects in Falcon Matter went to trial due to claims of ‘reasonable excuse’ for non-compliance Guilty verdict, $2,000 fine and $1,500 in costs A Mandurah roof restorer has been ordered to pay $3,500 in fines and costs after a court found he did not have a valid reason for disregarding an official order to fix defects. On 6 December at...
Building and Energy
Media release
14 Dec 2021
Local governments must inspect private pool safety barriers at least every four years 1.6% of WA pools were overdue for inspection at 30 June 2021 57% of authorities were up to date with their inspections, but this is a decline Most WA local governments are progressing well with inspections of private pool safety barriers but there is still room for improvement, Building and Energy has reported...
Building and Energy
Media release
09 Dec 2021
Outdoor gas hot water system incorrectly installed in an internal room Risk of potentially fatal exposure to carbon monoxide or fire Gasfitter ignored a rectification order but still unlocked the gas supply A Midvale family was exposed to potential fire and carbon monoxide risks after a licensed gas fitter installed an outdoor-only water heater inside their house and later removed the gas company...
Building and Energy
Media release
17 Nov 2021
Building Services Board issues $1,000 fine Boundary fence removed without neighbour’s awareness or consent Builders are reminded of their responsibilities A Landsdale registered builder has been fined $1,000 for removing a rear boundary fence at a Balga site without notifying or obtaining consent from the neighbour, who was left without a back fence for several weeks. The Building Services Board...
Building and Energy
Media release
28 Oct 2021
Failed to comply with official order to rectify driveway work and damage $5,000 fine plus $368.50 in costs Magistrate noted need to deter substandard work and encourage confidence A Woodvale concreter who ignored a Building Commissioner’s order to rectify driveway work and damage has been fined $5,000 following a prosecution by Building and Energy. Thomas John Sharkey pleaded guilty to breaching...
Building and Energy
Media release
21 Oct 2021
Failed to comply with Building Commissioner’s order to rectify floor and windows Guilty pleas from company and director after Building and Energy investigation Gran Designs WA is no longer trading Failure to comply with a Building Commissioner’s order to fix a Stoneville modular home has cost a building company and its director almost $7,000 in fines and costs. Following a prosecution by Building...
Building and Energy
Media release
14 Oct 2021
Building Services Board issues $1,000 fine for deficient certification Some plans, specifications and technical documents did not show compliance with building standards Building surveyors are reminded of their responsibilities A registered building surveyor has been fined $1,000 for misleading the City of Belmont by incorrectly certifying that an apartment project would comply with relevant...
Building and Energy
Media release
13 Oct 2021
$136,500 building project carried out without the required registration or permit Building Services Board issued $2,500 fine for registration breach and negligence Home owners encouraged to check registration and permits before work starts Home owners are urged to check their builder’s registration and any permits before building work begins after a Cloverdale couple had to seek retrospective...
Building and Energy
Media release
07 Oct 2021

Pages

Subscribe to Topics
Subscribe to RSS - Home buyer / owner