Status: CLOSED Friday 16 December 2022

Public consultation is now closed.  It makes up part of a review of the family domestic violence provisions included in:

• Division 2A of the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA); and
• Division 3A and Division 4A of the Residential Parks (Long-stay Tenants) Act 2006 (WA).

We refer to these provisions as family domestic violence (FDV) tenancy laws.

Your feedback will help us to understand how the FDV tenancy laws are operating and identify whether any changes are needed. A review report is due to be tabled in the Parliament in the first half of 2023.

Have your say

Survey is not closed.  Feedback is currently being reviewed. 

 

Artwork: Freedom to Fly by Barbara Bynder.

Background

The FDV tenancy laws commenced in 2019, as part of the Government’s broader commitment to addressing the serious issue of FDV impacting our community.

The FDV tenancy laws were introduced to give victim-survivors the choice to either end their tenancy agreement early on the grounds of FDV without needing to go to court; or to stay in their rental homes if safe to do so, by going to court.

Key features of the FDV tenancy laws

Early termination of a tenancy agreement

A FDV victim-survivor can end their interest in a tenancy agreement by giving the landlord a notice of termination on the grounds of family violence along with required documentary evidence. This evidence can be certified by specified professionals, for example a person in charge of a women’s refuge, a doctor or a social worker.

Court can terminate the perpetrator’s interest in the tenancy agreement (take their name off the tenancy agreement)

The court is able to terminate the perpetrator’s interest in a tenancy agreement where the perpetrator is excluded from the premises by way of a court order, or where the court is satisfied that the perpetrator has committed family violence against the protected tenant during the tenancy period.  This reform is aimed at enabling the victim-survivor to stay in the rental home.

Court can assign liability for debt (rather than all tenants on agreement being liable)

The court can assign liability for injuries, other than personal injury, (for example, damage to the property and unpaid rent) to the perpetrator if the damages and unpaid rent are as a result of family violence during the tenancy agreement. This is aimed at minimising the risk of the victim of family-domestic violence being indebted as a result of terminating the tenancy agreement early.

Court can distribute the bond before the end of the tenancy

Enabling the court to apportion disposal of a security bond to the victim-survivor tenant if it is appropriate in the circumstances to do so.

Lodging your submission

Consultation phase is now closed.   If you have any questions please contact the Legislation and Policy team via email.