The lessor can ask a prospective tenant to complete an application form to help them assess the suitability of a tenant. A lessor can also look in a tenancy database . If they do they must let the prospective tenant know, in writing, which database they use and if they find any information. A...
During the 1970s and early 80s, joints in electrical cables in ceiling spaces of dwellings and buildings were often wrapped only in insulating tape. The insulating tape has dried out over time and may have fallen away, leaving the exposed ends of the cables. This is a serious risk to persons...
A security bond is a payment made in advance by a tenant to cover any costs for which the tenant may be liable at the end of the tenancy, such as damage to the property or chattels, outstanding water usage charges or unpaid rent. When a tenant pays the bond, the lessor must give a receipt on the...
There are a number of notices designed to help the lessor, property manager and tenant/s deal with various issues. Only issue a notice after you have tried to negotiate the problem or dispute with the other person. Standard forms and notices When a notice is served, proper procedures must be...
Status: Closed 17 May 2012 The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2011 was passed by the Western Australian Parliament in November 2011. The act will substantially amend existing tenancy obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 . The Act was the result of extensive research and...
The media team is the first point of contact for journalists and other members of the media wanting information about Consumer Protection and its activities. The media team: prepares media releases and speeches arranges media interviews organises launches promoting our products and objectives...
The Parliamentary Counsel's Office publishes all Western Australian legislation. You can seach and download Acts and Regulations in PDF or Word format. You can download a document with a list of Acts by administering portfolios .
Tenants must be given receipts/records of any payments they make, unless rent is paid online or by an automated payment. Bond After the landlord/lessor has lodged the bond , the bond administrator will send a record of payment directly to the tenant/s. If the tenant does not receive the record from...
Real estate agents and property managers You are required to lodge a security bond as an eTransaction via the BondsOnline system since 1 September 2016. Private lessors Residential bond lodgement, disposal and variation forms can be completed online. You only need to print and sign them before...
In planning housing and lifestyle options, some people consider re-financing options that allow them to access equity built up in their existing home. Equity is the difference between the value of your home and any amount you still owe on it. These products are known as reverse mortgages or equity...
Consultation status: CLOSED Submissions closed at 5pm on 30 June 2020. Does the Residential Tenancies Act (the RTA) balance tenant and landlord rights and reponsibilities fairly? Possible options...
Consultation status: CLOSED Submissions closed at 5pm on 30 June 2020. Is there a better way to resolve tenancy disputes than going to court? Possible options Offer mediation as a first option. Allow...
Consultation status: CLOSED Submissions closed at 5pm on 30 June 2020. Should claims on the bond be made easier for landlords and tenants? Possible options Allow either the landlord or the tenant to...
Consultation status: CLOSED Submissions closed at 5pm on 30 June 2020. Should a landlord be allowed to sell or donate abandoned goods? Possible option Allow a landlord to sell or donate abandoned...
Consultation status: CLOSED Submissions closed at 5pm on 30 June 2020. Should a tenant be allowed to terminate a fixed term tenancy agreement? Possible options Allow a tenant to end a fixed term...
Consultation status: CLOSED Submissions closed at 5pm on 30 June 2020. Should the landlord be allowed to terminate a periodic tenancy agreement if the status of the tenant or the landlord changes?...
Consultation status: CLOSED Submissions closed at 5pm on 30 June 2020. Should "no grounds" terminations by landlords be removed from the Residential Tenancies Act (the RTA)? Possible options No...
Consultation status: CLOSED Submissions closed at 5pm on 30 June 2020. Does the law about keeping pets in rental premises need to be changed? Possible options Allow a landlord to refuse only where...
29 November 2019 In this issue: Update to family and domestic violence regulations Update to family and domestic violence regulations From 12 October 2019 the regulations to the Residential Tenancies...
Flowchart last updated 17 July 2020 A tenant can use this flowchart to assist with proper notification and date counting when they wish to request permission from the lessor to affix furniture to a...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Consumer Protection is aware that contamination or damage to homes from illegal drug activity is a worry for tenants, owners and property industry professionals. But how do you identify past production, or smoking, of meth, heroin or cannabis at a property and whether there are potential health risks as a result? We’ve been working with WA’...
A Claremont property management agency has been reprimanded, fined $8,000 and ordered to pay costs of $2,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) on 13 June 2019 for trust account errors and other breaches of the law. Gemranch Nominees Pty Ltd , trading as TM Residential and Executive Leasing , had breached the Real Estate and Business Agents Act and the Code of Conduct for Agents and Sales...
Properties for sale or rent Under the Electricity Regulations 1947 all residential premises sold, rented or hired must have all socket outlets and lighting final sub-circuits protected by at least 2 RCDs. It is also essential to ensure that there are no more than 3 final sub-circuits per RCD and the lighting circuits (if 2 or more) are separated over the RCDs. Further details appear in the...
With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard WA has the worst rates of family and domestic violence in Australia and the number of incidents is unfortunately increasing. Family violence affects people from all walks of life making it everyone’s business and all of us have a part to play in preventing it. Changes to WA’s tenancy laws have now come...
The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) is conducting a stakeholder satisfaction survey to invite feedback on our services and our role as a regulator. The results will help DMIRS focus on business areas and services that need performance improvements. If you subscribe to a DMIRS email newsletter or subscriber news service, you may be contacted by email and invited to take...
New tenancy laws to assist Western Australian renters affected by family and domestic violence are now in force. The new laws allow a tenant to end their tenancy with as little as seven days' notice if they or their dependants are impacted by family and domestic violence, even if the perpetrator is not named on the lease. There is no need to go to court and a new Consumer Protection form can be...
WITH COMMISSIONER FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION, DAVID HILLYARD Following a recent ceiling collapse at a Thornlie property, home owners are reminded to act promptly on warning signs of ceiling stress. A ceiling collapse can cause serious injury to anyone present at the time of collapse and it can also cause extensive damage to a room’s contents and structure...
Consumer Protection is warning landlords who manage their own rental properties in WA to comply with their legal requirements under the Residential Tenancies Act or face being prosecuted. The warning follows a court case on 21 March 2019 in the Perth Magistrates Court where landlord Mark Alasdair Adam , formerly of Bayswater but now residing in Sydney, was convicted in his absence and fined $10,...
Rosie Batty has given her support to planned changes to WA tenancy laws to assist renters affected by family and domestic violence (FDV). The former Australian of the Year (2015), who has been a domestic violence campaigner since her son Luke was tragically murdered by his father, gave the endorsement during a visit to Kalgoorlie, where she met with Consumer Protection’s Senior Regional Officer...
A national safety alert has been issued for four open-flued gas heaters that, under certain circumstances, may produce too much carbon monoxide – potentially causing serious health risks to users. Building and Energy (formerly Energy Safety ) is urging owners of these gas heaters to stop using them immediately. The safety alert applies to: Regency i31 (purchased after 1 January 2010) supplied by...
