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...
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...
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 (...
In 2019, Consumer Protection began reviewing the Residential Tenancies Act to consider potential improvements required to keep pace with Western Australia’s changing tenancy market. Following extensive consultation, the first phase of rent reforms was passed by...
There are two ways the property you're renting can be repossessed by: the mortgagee such as a bank or other financial lender, or a person with superior title such as a Government authority. An application to the Supreme Court must be made for possession of the rental property. During that process...
If you have clients experiencing family and domestic violence in their rental home they can chose to stay or leave. See more on the Violence in a rental home page. Factsheets and useful information Safe Tenancy WA poster Department of Communities - family and domestic violence support and advice...
LP Gas cylinder safety in bush fire prone areas Guidelines on the storage of LP Gas cylinders on properties in bush fire prone areas. LP Gas cylinder safety in bush fire prone areas brochure The guidelines aim to help residents reduce the risks associated with LP Gas cylinders should a fire...
Consumer Protection is advising tenants to be wary of products that are advertised as cheaper alternatives to rental bonds. These products are not legal in Western Australia. How ‘bond replacement’ products compare to bonds Bonds At the start of a lease, tenants may be asked to pay a bond, usually...
This overview explains how personal information is collected, used and disclosed by the Bond Administrator and officers authorised under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and the Residential Parks (Long-stay tenants) Act 2006 (the Acts). Personal information collected by the Bond Administrator...
6 September 2023 Managing a shared tenancy Shared tenancies occur when part or all of a property is rented by two or more independent tenants. It is important to maintain proper administration of...
23 June 2023 Minimising the risk of mould in your property Mould or dampness can pose a serious health risk, as well as cause structural damage to your rental property. The risk of mould increases...
8 June 2023 Update on the review of residential tenancy laws in Western Australia Consumer Protection has reviewed the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA) to identify changes that adapt to the...
11 May 2023 Breaking a lease Although a tenancy agreement is a binding contract, circumstances can change for tenants during the term of a fixed-term tenancy agreement, causing a need to break the...
3 January 2023 Rental properties affected by a disaster Landlords and tenants each have responsibilities if a cyclone, storm, fire, flood, earthquake or some other disaster affects a rental property...
23 December 2022 Pool safety - it's everyone's responsibility Homes with pools, spas and portable pools must be safe to protect young children from injury or drowning. Royal Life Saving Australia...
8 November 2022 Energy Policy WA survey Energy Policy WA is conducting a survey among embedded networks stakeholders to better understand their experiences and inform policy. Embedded networks are...
Use this checklist to help ensure you meet your obligations when you dispose of belongings the tenant(s) has left behind at the end of a residential tenancy or a residential parks long-stay tenancy...
Welshpool real estate agency and director fined a total of $8,000 Over $30,000 in bonds not lodged within required timeframe Warning to agents to ensure timely bond lodgements A Welshpool real estate agency and its director have been fined and reprimanded over failing to lodge $32,380 in tenancy bonds with the Bond Administrator within the 14 day timeframe. The State Administrative Tribunal (SAT...
West Aussies are no strangers to disasters such as bushfires, storms and floods. But if you’re renting, there might be the extra stress of working with your landlord should your residence be affected by a catastrophe. The good news is when it comes to rentals, both landlords and tenants have rights and responsibilities should a property become damaged or destroyed in a disaster such as a cyclone...
Modernisation of WA tenancy laws begins with a Bill introduced to Parliament Rent increases limited to once every 12 months Greater freedom for tenants to keep pets and make minor modifications New dispute resolution procedure to deliver fast, fair and transparent outcomes New laws to improve the lives of Western Australian renters have been introduced to Parliament, as part of the Cook...
All short-term rental accommodation providers to be required to register properties New $10,000 incentive for property owners to transition existing short-term rental accommodation into long-term rental homes for Western Australians Reforms to provide consistency across the sector and clarity on what is required to operate a short-term rental accommodation property The Cook Government has today...
Everyone has the right to privacy in their own homes, and those living in rental properties across Western Australia are certainly no exception. Claims of private landlords and property managers arriving unannounced for inspections, maintenance and rent collection are fairly common issues reported to Consumer Protection – in the past two years, our team has fielded 177 enquiries and 36 complaints...
Rising rents and a lack of available homes have prompted many Western Australians to seek out share houses as a way of keeping a roof over their heads at a price they can afford. Before taking on a housemate, or becoming one yourself, it’s crucial that everyone understands the arrangement they have agreed to, as the law applies differently to boarders and lodgers than it does to co-tenants or sub...
Western Australia’s rental market has never been tighter, but it doesn’t mean tenants should accept living in homes that are falling into disrepair, have mould or electrical safety issues. So far this year, Consumer Protection has received 367 enquiries and 32 complaints about rental repair and maintenance issues, but we suspect these figures are only a small proportion of the actual number of...
Teenager’s garden equipment appears to have touched overhead power lines High-voltage power line carrying 22,000 volts of electricity Guides on vegetation management and high-voltage installations available WA’s energy safety regulator is investigating an incident in Gnangara today (27 May 2023) in which a teenager appears to have received an electric shock from high-voltage power lines while...
New tenancy laws to improve rights for renters and provide certainty for landlords Rent bidding to be prohibited in Western Australia under the reforms The frequency of rent increases to be reduced to once every 12 months Funding boost for tenancy advocates and legal centres to assist tenants in trouble Tenants allowed to make minor modifications and keep pets at rental properties The McGowan...
When you walk away from a tenancy, an important next step is working out how the security bond paid at the start of the lease will be distributed between tenant and landlord. Tenants may be relying on getting back the money to help with finding a new place to live, while landlords may need some – or all – of the funds to cover damage or cleaning costs. In 2022, only 36 per cent of tenants...
