Consumer

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Price increases to home building work contracts

This information relates to home building work contracts that fall within the scope of the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (the Act) – that is, contracts for home building work valued between $7,500 and $500,000. The Act sets out the minimum contract terms and provides circumstances when a builder...
Building a home in challenging times
17 May 2022

Funeral Pricing Code of Practice Consultation

Funeral Pricing Code A public consultation to seek industry and consumer views on the draft Fair Trading (Funeral Pricing Code of Practice) Regulations 2022 (the Funeral Pricing Code) closed on 21 April 2022. The Funeral Pricing Code was published on 8 November 2022 and will commence on 1 May 2023...
Consultations
17 Mar 2022

Associations Incorporation Act review

Consultation status: CLOSED Submissions closed 4 April 2022. Please subscribe to the Associations newsletter to keep up to date with the latest association information. The Associations Incorporation Act 2015 is being reviewed to check how well it is working. Background The purpose of this review...
Consultations
04 Feb 2022

Renting or hiring a house or apartment – Gas

Renting or hiring a house or apartment Important electrical and gas safety information you need to know before you rent or hire a property. Renting or hiring a house or apartment fact sheet – Electrical and gas If you rent or hire a home or apartment, your landlord has a duty under electrical and...
Gas installations
10 Dec 2021

Renting or hiring a house or apartment – Electrical

Renting or hiring a house or apartment. Important electrical and gas safety information you need to know before you rent or hire a property.
Electrical installations
10 Dec 2021

Plumbing work complaints

Who can make a plumbing work complaint? Building and Energy receives complaints from consumers about faulty building and plumbing work. These matters can be resolved quickly through discussion with the contractor and this must be considered in the first instance. If the rectification of plumbing...
Plumbing work complaints
04 Nov 2021

Consumer Justice Strategy

WATCH
The Consumer Justice Strategy will outline legislative reforms, policy development, and strategic priorities for consumer protection and fair trading in WA for the coming years.
About us
16 Sep 2021

Dividing fence matters – overview

WATCH
This webpage provides general guidance on the Dividing Fences Act 1961 (the Act) and its interaction with local government by-laws in relation to the construction and maintenance of dividing fences in Western Australia. The Act provides a process for sharing costs between neighbours, the...
Dividing fences
23 Jul 2021

Process E: Repairing an existing fence where damage is caused by a natural act or by one owner’s actions

Damage caused by one neighbour Situations may arise where you consider that your neighbour or neighbours should be responsible for paying the entire repair of the fence because it has been damaged by their actions or inaction. The Act only recognises a limited set of circumstances where an...
Dividing fences
23 Jul 2021

Process D: Repairing an existing fence

Step one: Negotiate with your neighbour An agreement between neighbours has priority over the requirements of the Act so it is best to approach the owner of the adjoining land first. The Act does not specify the requirements for obtaining quotes, however, having quotes and a clear understanding of...
Dividing fences
23 Jul 2021

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Publications

Complaint form – Authority to act

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This complaint from is to be lodged on behalf of a person or entity, or during a complaints process where parties select another person to act on their behalf.
Building and Energy
Form – application
26 Oct 2023

Building disputes monthly report – September 2023

READ
An overview of building disputes for the month of September 2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
16 Oct 2023

Translations – Building and Energy's Top 10 tips: Choosing a builder and signing a home building contract

READ
Important guidance for beginning the building process including tips for choosing a builder and signing your home building work contract. Available in Chinese Simplified (Mandarin), Vietnamese,...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
07 Nov 2023

Building disputes monthly report – August 2023

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An overview of building disputes for the month of August 2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
28 Sep 2023

Annual building disputes report 2022-23

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An overview of building disputes for the financial year of 2022-2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
30 Aug 2023

Building and Energy's Top 10 tips: Choosing a builder and signing a home building contract

READ
Important guidance for beginning the building process including tips for choosing a builder and signing your home building work contract.
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
29 Sep 2023

Building disputes monthly report – July 2023

READ
An overview of building disputes for the month of July 2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
18 Aug 2023

Building disputes monthly report – June 2023

READ
An overview of building disputes for the month of June 2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
24 Jul 2023

Portable gas cooking appliances in restaurants

READ
Building and Energy has noticed an increase in the use of unapproved portable gas cooking appliances operating on butane canisters. The commercial use of these appliances, particularly used as table-top gas cooking appliances in indoor restaurant environments, has resulted in gas explosions injuring consumers. This fact sheet is intended to raise awareness by highlighting the 2016 WA prohibition order and the potential effects on restaurant design and patron safety.
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
06 Sep 2023

Energy Safety Business Plan 2022–2023

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Building and Energy is Western Australia’s technical and safety regulator for the electricity industry and most of the gas industry as well as the regulator for the building, building surveying,...
Building and Energy
Plans
30 Jun 2023

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Announcements

Fitness industry warned Consumer Protection ‘will prosecute’

Consumer Protection is urging Western Australians to exercise caution before signing up for fitness programs or challenges over concerns of misleading and deceptive conduct.
Consumer Protection
Media release
03 Sep 2024

Commerce Minister media statement – Outcome reached for homeowners impacted by leaking pipes issue

Media statement from Commerce Minister Sue Ellery Outcome reached on industry response between the pipe manufacturer and builders Decision provides way forward for impacted homeowners Cook Government to provide $30 million as part of agreement Legislative changes to be introduced to protect WA homeowners An in-principle agreement has been secured between the Cook Government, Iplex Australia and...
Building and Energy / Consumer Protection
Media release
30 Aug 2024

Commissioner's Blog: Happy Father’s Day - Give the gift of safety

In 2021, Grandfather Maurice Wayne Matthews died of mechanical asphyxia from being crushed under a car. He had decided to work on his car that morning but was killed due to the jack becoming unstable on a sloped surface, causing the vehicle to shift. Repairing a vehicle at home carries the risk of death. While preventable, incidents continue to occur. Over 100 Australians have died due to DIY car...
Consumer Protection
Media release
29 Aug 2024

Huge losses spark romance scams warning

The Cook Government is urging Western Australians to be on lookout for scams and to report any suspicious activity this Scams Awareness Week (26-30 August). It follows news of romance scammers stealing more than $1.4 million from two WA victims in recent weeks, prompting a renewed warning to those looking for love online.
Consumer Protection
Media release
28 Aug 2024

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 28 August 2024), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 36 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
27 Aug 2024

Builder fined for missing insurance – Peter John Edmonds

A builder’s failure to take out mandatory home indemnity insurance (HII) left a Dudley Park resident $132,000 out of pocket when a renovation was left incomplete, WA’s building regulator has told Mandurah Magistrates Court. Following prosecution by the Building Commissioner, former registered building contractor Peter John Edmonds (BC8225 expired; BP8225) entered a written guilty plea for...
Building and Energy
Media release
26 Aug 2024

Commissioner's Blog: Stretch your dollar at the checkout using unit pricing

Unless you’re completely self-sufficient, then grocery shopping is an essential part of your life. Cost of living pressures mean consumers are spending more time shopping around for savings on their grocery bill. One way to help you save time and money is to check unit pricing. Unit pricing helps to make sure you get bang for your buck. It not only shows the cost of a product, but also the value...
Consumer Protection
Media release
22 Aug 2024

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 21 August 2024), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 35 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
20 Aug 2024

Commissioner's Blog: Tenant termination - Breaking your lease

Ending a tenancy agreement early, or ‘breaking lease’ can be stressful, but renters should find it easier in the current tight rental market given it probably won’t take long to find new tenants. While there are potential costs involved with breaking lease, you cannot be asked to pay the usual end of tenancy expenses such as the final inspection fee that an agent may charge and the landlord...
Consumer Protection
Media release
16 Aug 2024

Guilty of eight building offences – Gregory Noel John Hall, trading as Longhorn Building Company and Down South Bathroom Renovations

A Bunbury tradesman has been convicted of eight building offences related to a renovation project that was still incomplete when the elderly client passed away. Gregory Noel John Hall , trading as Longhorn Building Company and Down South Bathroom Renovations , did not attend Bunbury Magistrates Court on 15 July 2024 when he was ordered to pay $6,100 in fines and costs. According to information...
Building and Energy
Media release
16 Aug 2024

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