Home buyer / owner

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Housing contracts advice for seniors

Whether building, buying, renting, moving to a retirement village, purchasing services or refinancing, you are likely to be entering into a legal contract between yourself and another party. The following information is also available as part of the Seniors housing guide - Contracts and agreements...
Contracts and agreements
24 Feb 2014

Alternatives to buying a property

Home ownership may not suit everyone's budget or lifestyle so it may be worthwhile considering the alternatives: Boarding and Lodging If you are a boarder, you pay rent to stay at another person's property and meals are usually provided. Lodgers pay rent to stay at another person's property, but...
Buying a property
24 Feb 2014

Home buyers assistance account

Information on government financial assistance for first home buyers A grant from the Home Buyers Assistance Account reimburses some of the incidental expenses incurred when purchasing a first home in Western Australia, provided the applicants meet all criteria. Eligible applicants receive a grant...
Buying a property
24 Feb 2014

Rent to buy a property

Under a rent-to-buy scheme, the seller makes a rental agreement with the buyer at an above market rent rate. The buyer may only exercise the ‘option to buy’ at the end of the rental period if they can get the finance to pay the balance of the agreed purchase price and have complied with the terms...
Buying a property
24 Feb 2014

Ending a tenancy by mutual agreement

Ending a tenancy by mutual agreement If both the landlord and tenant agree, in writing, the tenancy agreement should end on a specified date, this is also acceptable and none of the more formal procedures (such as issuing notices) need apply. It’s important to ensure both parties sign a clear,...
When a tenancy ends
24 Feb 2014

Buying property "off the plan"

A copy of the information below can be found in our publication Buying off the plan Buying “off-the-plan” can mean many things but generally involves signing a contract with a developer before the developer has obtained final approval to subdivide land that is being purchased or, in the case of a...
Buying a property
24 Feb 2014

Testing RCDs

To ensure that the RCDs fitted to your property perform correctly, they must be tested at regular intervals. Building and Energy recommends that each RCD be tested every three months.
Residual current devices (RCDs)
20 Feb 2014

RCD rules

RCD laws Information about RCD laws for homeowners, real estate agents, settlement agents, landlords, tenants and property managers. RCDs must be installed in accordance with the Electricity Regulations to protect all power and lighting circuits. Homeowners A minimum of two RCDs protecting all...
Residual current devices (RCDs)
20 Feb 2014

Owner-builder application

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
19 Feb 2014

Owner-builders' responsibilities

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
19 Feb 2014

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Announcements

Negligence finding for coastal builder – Theodoros Sartzidis

A Perth registered builder has had to pay almost $83,000 in penalties and has also received a caution for unauthorised work and building defects at a Swanbourne property. At its August 2019 meeting, the Building Services Board found that Theodoros Sartzidis (BP/BC12815) had been negligent under WA’s building registration laws after he carried out work that differed from approved plans and without...
Building and Energy
Media release
11 Sep 2019

Building surveyor certifies non-complying construction – Constructive Building Consultants Pty Ltd and Caillam Walter Bruyn

The Building Services Board has fined Wangara building surveying contractor Constructive Building Consultants Pty Ltd (BSC2033) $2,500 and building surveyor Caillam Walter Bruyn (BSP2164) $1,000 after they signed off on a Toodyay community facility that did not meet construction requirements. In 2016, the Shire of Toodyay received a certificate of construction compliance for the newly built...
Building and Energy
Media release
29 Aug 2019

High-profile builder fined over faulty slab – Dale Alcock Homes Pty Ltd and Dale Andrew Alcock

Major WA builder Dale Alcock Homes Pty Ltd (BC7309) and its nominated supervisor Dale Andrew Alcock (BP7184) have been fined a total of $10,000 in relation to a defective concrete slab that ultimately led to a decision to demolish and reconstruct a Woodvale house. The Building Services Board fined the company and Mr Alcock $5,000 each under WA’s building registration laws for failing to properly...
Building and Energy
Media release
28 Aug 2019

Negligence finding for Boyanup builder – Michael Kenneth Cheeseman

The Building Services Board has fined a South West builder $5,000 for negligent conduct after he was named on a building permit to construct a house in Yarloop, but allowed an unregistered third party to do the work. Michael Kenneth Cheeseman (BC101905, BP14081), a registered building contractor and building practitioner from Boyanup, was listed on the building permit and contract for the $83,000...
Building and Energy
Media release
21 Aug 2019

Glazier reflects on $65,000 fine for building offence – Barrowman Holdings (t/a Perth Window and Door Replacement Company) and Stuart William Barrowman

A Perth window company and its director have been fined a total of $65,000 for not complying with a Building Commissioner’s order to fix incorrect glass installed at a Mandurah home. Malaga-based Barrowman Holdings Pty Ltd , trading as Perth Window and Door Replacement Company , was contracted to supply and install tinted double-glazed windows and doors at the property at a cost of more than $19,...
Building and Energy
Media release
31 Jul 2019

Bush fire framework review 2019 and changes to the Map

On 30 July 2019, the McGowan Government announced a three-stage plan to improve the bush fire policy framework, including the Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas (the Map). The improvements will reduce the number of residential buildings required to comply with the bush fire construction requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Stage One will see a new edition of the Map come into effect on...
Building and Energy
Department News
30 Jul 2019

Chocolate store building leaves a sour taste and a fine for negligence – Ferhan Developments Pty Ltd

A Perth building company has been found to be negligent and fined $5,000 by the Building Services Board for winning a contract to renovate a chocolate store in Fremantle, but then failing to carry out or supervise the work. Ferhan Developments Pty Ltd (BC102155) of Queens Park and its sole director Chrishan Fernando won a $236,158 tender and were issued a building permit by the City of Fremantle...
Building and Energy
Media release
23 Jul 2019

$32,000 in fines for serious roof defects – BGC Residential Pty Ltd and Thomas Edmund Starkey

A major Australian building company and its nominated supervisor have been fined a total of $32,000 after significant roof defects were discovered at two Perth homes. The State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) found that BGC Residential Pty Ltd (BC9769) and Thomas Edmund Starkey (BP14002) breached building registration laws by not properly managing and supervising a building service. In 2016, a...
Building and Energy
Media release
01 Jul 2019

Builder cautioned over Karrinyup roof issues – Mulvay Pty Ltd and Mark Anthony Mulvay

A Karrinyup builder has been formally cautioned over the roof construction at a $1.1 million home, which did not comply with approved plans and building standards. The Building Services Board found that Mulvay Pty Ltd (BC10975) and its nominated supervisor, Mark Anthony Mulvay (BP9892), breached WA’s building registration laws by not properly managing and supervising a building service. The two-...
Building and Energy
Media release
24 Jun 2019

Building regulator measures up

Home owners can be reassured that WA’s building regulator is taking action on standards, compliance and dispute resolution across the industry, according to retiring Building Commissioner Ken Bowron. Mr Bowron leaves Building and Energy (formerly the Building Commission and Energy Safety ) today after 10 years, including 18 months at the helm of the combined division within the Department of...
Building and Energy
Media release
14 Jun 2019

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