Home buyer / owner

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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

Process B: Constructing a new fence when the adjoining owner cannot be contacted

In this case you will need to contact the Magistrates Court before building the fence. If you can satisfy the court that you have made reasonable enquiries to locate the owner and have issued the required notification, the court may make an order authorising the owner to construct a fence of a kind...
Dividing fences
23 Jul 2021

Process C: Constructing a new fence where the adjoining owner’s land is vacant

Except where there is an agreement or a court order in place, you cannot recover any of the costs from the adjoining land that is vacant for constructing a sufficient fence unless or until the current owner of the adjoining land: has completed a substantial building or structure on the land; has...
Dividing fences
23 Jul 2021

Process A: Constructing a new fence on developed land

Step one: Negotiate with your neighbour An agreement between neighbours has priority over the requirements of the Act, therefore when issues with a dividing fence occur it is best to approach the owner of the adjoining land and try to resolve matters together. In order to reach agreement with a...
Dividing fences
22 Jul 2021

How we can help you

Consumer Protection, a division of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, promotes fair trading and consumer protection in Western Australia. From the simple act of purchasing the weekly groceries at the supermarket to the complexities of signing a contract to buy a house...
About us
14 Jan 2021

Modernisation of Work Health and Safety Laws - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Questions asked during Safe Work Month Webinar on 30 October 2020 have been compiled along with the department's responses. Commencement When did the Work Health and Safety Act receive assent? The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) was assented to by the Governor on 10 November 2020. However...
Legislation, codes and guidance materials
18 Dec 2020

Solar PV systems

WATCH
Over one third of Western Australian households already have solar PV systems, with numbers growing rapidly. These systems comprise grid-connected, stand-alone and hybrid, incorporating grid and battery back-up. Grid connect systems enable surplus power not used by the household to be fed back into...
Electrical installations
22 Oct 2020

Earthing of lighting points and luminaires

Western Australian electrical safety regulations require all lighting points to have earth protection using a conductor connected to the main earth of the building’s electrical installation. The earthing conductor must be connected to a suitably robust earthing terminal of the lighting point (...
Electrical installations
14 May 2020

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Publications

General inspection report five – Investigation into re-roofing of buildings

READ
General Inspection (Investigation) Report Five – Investigation into the re-roofing of buildings, provides an overview of Building and Energy’s investigation into the cause of roof failures from...
Building and Energy
Reports
26 Jul 2021

Decision paper – Swimming pool and safety barrier control

READ
This Decision Paper is the final stage of an extensive review of WA’s regulatory requirements for swimming pools and their associated safety barriers, following the recommendations in the Ombudsman’s...
Building and Energy
Discussion paper
20 May 2021

Guide on price increases to home building work contracts

READ
This information relates to home building work contracts that fall within the scope of the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 – that is, contracts for home building work valued between $7,500 and $500,000.
Building and Energy
Guide / handbook
17 May 2022

Industry Bulletin 138 – Weatherproofing – Windows and doors

READ
This bulletin provides guidance on the selection and installation of windows and doors. It is intended to assist in improving the standard of design, documentation and building compliance to reduce water penetration into buildings during wind driven rain events.
Building and Energy
Bulletin
06 May 2021

Industry Bulletin 137 – Updated BA3 and BA18 certificate of compliance forms for building surveyors

READ
New versions of the BA3 – Certificate of design compliance (CDC), and BA18 – Certificate of building compliance (CBC) forms have been approved and published by the Building Commissioner. The changes to these forms are the result of the Building Amendment Regulations 2021 (the Amendment Regulations) that were published in the Government Gazette on 13 April 2021 and commence operation on 1 May 2021.
Building and Energy
Bulletin
30 Apr 2021

Industry Bulletin 136 – Building Amendment Regulations 2021 for bush fire

READ
The Building Amendment Regulations 2021 (the Amendment Regulations) were published in the Government Gazette on 13 April 2021 and commence operation on 1 May 2021. The Amendment Regulations address administrative matters around the conclusion of transitional arrangements for bush fire in the Building Regulations 2012 (the Building Regulations), and other related issues. In general, the Amendment Regulations provide ongoing concessions relating to compliance with the Building Code bush fire construction requirements.
Building and Energy
Bulletin
30 Apr 2021

Clean up after cyclones, storms or floods - information sheet

READ
It's important for employers and workers to be prepared for the risks associated with cleaning up after a natural disaster. This publication has important health and safety information for cleaning...
WorkSafe
Information
05 Jan 2023

Licence Reform program

READ
The Digital DMIRS Strategy seeks to improve the department’s operations and service delivery through the effective use of technology. Some goals of the strategy are to modernise digital systems and...
Corporate
Information
23 Dec 2020

Building Focus – Issue 3

READ
Welcome to the third issue of the 'Building Focus' newsletter. Building Focus brings you the latest news for the building, building surveying and painting industries.
Building and Energy
Newsletter
24 Jul 2020

Compliance report: A summary of technical building inspections 2018–19

READ
Building and Energy
Reports
15 Jul 2020

Pages

Announcements

No summer holiday for your pool safety barriers

Effective, well-maintained and compliant pool safety barriers can help save lives Pool gates must never be propped open Only adults should supervise young children; don’t rely on older children for this Useful resources available from Building and Energy With summer school holidays starting, Western Australians are urged to check their pool safety barriers, keep pool gates closed and ensure young...
Building and Energy
Media release
14 Dec 2022

Be prudent when pruning to avoid electrical hazards near trees

Home owners urged to hire professionals to trim trees near power lines Hazards include electric shock, arcing, fire and falls Vegetation should be kept 2m clear of most urban power lines As Western Australians tidy up their gardens for summer, the State’s electrical safety regulator has issued a reminder about rules and responsibilities for trimming trees near overhead power lines. Building and...
Building and Energy
Media release
07 Dec 2022

New guide to help safeguard against cyclones

Advice on what to do before, during and after a cyclone Developed by Building and Energy in collaboration with Engineers Australia Checklists summarise key advice from several organisations A new guide is available with practical tips for protecting people and buildings against cyclone damage. The fact sheet , developed by Building and Energy in collaboration with Engineers Australia’s Cyclone...
Building and Energy
Media release
06 Dec 2022

Power line project targets bushfire safety

Western Power will prioritise a plan to reduce the risk posed by power lines in its network of a similar construction to the one that caused the Wickepin-Narrogin bushfire. This action follows discussions between Building and Energy – WA’s energy safety regulator – and Western Power in relation to the February 2022 bushfire, which impacted 18,000ha of farmland and bushland. The fire started when...
Building and Energy
Media release
16 Nov 2022

WA bans sale of unsafe open-flued gas heaters

Open-flued gas space heaters and open-flued decorative effect gas appliances can only be sold if they have new safety features Prohibition applies to the sale of new and second-hand appliances Consumers should use existing appliances safely and have them serviced Open-flued gas heaters that lack new safety shutdown features have been banned from sale in WA, with owners of existing appliances...
Building and Energy
Media release
27 Oct 2022

Councils urged to stay buoyant on pool barrier inspections

Local governments must inspect private pool safety barriers at least every four years 1.5% of WA pools were overdue for inspection at 30 June 2022 62% of councils were up to date with inspections, an improvement from last year WA local governments have shown overall improvement in inspecting private pool safety barriers, but the State’s building regulator says progress must continue to help...
Building and Energy
Media release
25 Oct 2022

Commerce Minister media statement – Insurance reforms to better protect home owners

Media statement from Commerce Minister, Hon Roger Cook MLA Home indemnity insurance reforms to better protect home owners affected by builder insolvencies Maximum insurance payouts will double to $40,000 for lost deposits and $200,000 for incomplete or defective works Home indemnity insurance is compulsory for residential building projects valued at $20,000 or more The McGowan Government has...
Building and Energy
Media release
19 Oct 2022

Digital Identity and WARAM Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) available

Two new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheets are now available. The new FAQs cover digital identity and the WA Relationship Authorisation Manager (WARAM). The My Account FAQ has also been updated. The FAQs provide answers to common questions such as: What is a digital identity and why we need to protect it? What is the WARAM and how can it benefit our customers and their business ? Both new...
Corporate
Department News
29 Sep 2022

Commissioner's Blog: Shining a light on solar complaints

As one of the world’s sunniest landscapes, Western Australia is home to a booming rooftop solar industry that shows little sign of slowing down as many households look to address rising power bills and reduce pollution. More than 400,000 WA homes and businesses, or around 36 per cent of customers, are estimated to have rooftop solar connected to WA's main grid, with that figure predicted to swell...
Consumer Protection
Media release
15 Sep 2022

Spring into action by testing RCDs

Residual current devices (RCDs) should be tested at the start of each season Life-saving switches protect against electrocution, serious injury and fire Simple test only takes a few minutes and could save a life With a new season underway, the State’s energy safety regulator is urging home owners to do a simple check of their residual current devices (RCDs) – the life-saving switches that protect...
Building and Energy
Media release
06 Sep 2022

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