Property industry

Topics

Boarders and lodgers review 2017

Consumer Protection is seeking community feedback about whether new laws should be introduced to regulate boarding and lodging in WA. Status: CLOSED , Friday 30 June 2017 Background Boarders and lodgers are currently not covered by the Residential Tenancies Act , although boarding premises...
Consultations
15 Sep 2016

Settlement agent licence fee refunds

Refunds will be considered with reference to the particular circumstances, and the requirements of the Settlement Agents Act 1981 (“the SA Act”) and associated Regulations. Settlement Agent Licence applications and triennial certificate renewal applications Licence and triennial certificate fee...
Settlement agents and conveyancers
12 Jul 2016

Drainage plumbing diagrams

Drainage plumbing diagrams are a diagrammatic representation of a property’s drainage plumbing work. Go to the 'Search for a drainage plumbing diagram' website Click here for the search Drainage plumbing diagrams are regularly used by homeowners, licensed plumbing contractors and others to...
Certificates and diagrams
21 Jun 2016

Past CPD modules - settlement

CPD modules from last year are available online to help you meet your compulsory professional development requirements. There is a new topic each year. The topics are selected to assist licensees and registrants to update their knowledge of industry developments, legislative changes and work...
Settlement agents and conveyancers
26 Apr 2016

Real Estate and Business Agents and Sales Representatives Code of Conduct consultation 2016

Consumer Protection is seeking industry views on the final draft of the new Real Estate and Business Agents and Sales Representatives Code of Conduct 2016. Status: CLOSED, Monday 30 May 2016 Background The new code, will replace the existing Code of Conduct for Agents and Sales Representatives 2011...
Consultations
26 Apr 2016

Land Valuers Code of Conduct 2016

Consumer Protection are seeking industry views on the final draft of the new Land Valuers Code of Conduct 2016. Status: CLOSED Friday 20 May 2016 Background The new code, will replace the existing Land Valuers Code of Conduct 2011 , (the 2011 Code) and implements feedback previously received from...
Consultations
19 Apr 2016

Settlement Agents Code of Conduct consultation 2016

Consumer Protection is seeking industry views on the final draft of the new Settlement Agents Code of Conduct 2016. Status : CLOSED Friday 20 May 2016 Background The new code, will replace the existing Settlement Agents’ Code of Conduct 1982 ( the 1982 Code) and implements feedback previously...
Consultations
19 Apr 2016

New directors and partners - real estate

All licensees must provide written notification, within one month, when there is a change to the: directors of a body corporate; partners of a firm, including directors if a partner is a body corporate; or person in bona fide control. N ewly appointed directors must provide the following: Two...
Real estate agents and sales representatives
24 Sep 2015

Keeping safe at home

WATCH
Whether you rent or own your home, you can keep you and your family safe by reducing any risks you notice around the house. The following pages will provide you with tips on what to look for and how to fix any issues: Portable swimming pool safety Rules for pools and spas (Building Commission)...
Home safety
09 Jul 2015

Balconies and decks

WATCH
When looking at a property with an existing balcony or deck, deterioration or substandard work may not be easily spotted. If you rent or about to buy a property, be aware the property owners may not even know how or when it was constructed. Unsafe balconies and decks are a hazard and can place...
Home safety
09 Jul 2015

Pages

Publications

RTA review fact sheet - Long term tenancies

READ
How can we encourage landlords to offer tenants longer leases? Possible options Educate and encourage landlords to offer longer leases. Stop or limit the use of fixed term tenancy agreements, so that...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
13 Jan 2020

RTA review fact sheet - Tenancy applications

READ
Should the Residential Tenancies Act safeguard a tenant's privacy? Possible options Educate landlords on best practice for information gathering and storage. Change the law to prevent landlords from...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
13 Jan 2020

RTA review fact sheet - Landlord disclosure

READ
Should a landlord have to give certain information to a tenant before a tenancy agreement is signed? Possible options Educate applicant tenants to ask the right questions before they sign a tenancy...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
13 Jan 2020

RTA review fact sheet - Rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords

READ
Does the Residential Tenancies Act (the RTA) balance tenant and landlord rights and reponsibilities fairly? Possible options Make it an offence under the RTA for a tenant to wilfully damage the...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
13 Jan 2020

RTA review fact sheet - Resolving disputes

READ
Is there a better way to resolve tenancy disputes than going to court? Possible options Offer mediation as a first option. Allow the Commissioner for Consumer Protection to make decisions in certain...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
13 Jan 2020

RTA review fact sheet - Making a claim on the bond

READ
Should claims on the bond be made easier for landlords and tenants? Possible options Allow either the landlord or the tenant to apply for disposal of the bond and the Bond Administrator notifies...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
13 Jan 2020

RTA review fact sheet - Abandoned goods

READ
Should a landlord be allowed to sell or donate abandoned goods? Possible option Allow a landlord to sell or donate abandoned goods by any lawful process. Tell us what you think... In what ways should...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
13 Jan 2020

RTA review fact sheet - When tenants need to end a fixed term tenancy agreement

READ
Should a tenant be allowed to terminate a fixed term tenancy agreement? Possible options Allow a tenant to end a fixed term tenancy agreement without financial penalty in certain circumstances, such...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
13 Jan 2020

RTA review fact sheet - When landlords need to end a periodic agreement

READ
Should the landlord be allowed to terminate a periodic tenancy agreement if the status of the tenant or the landlord changes? Possible options Change the RTA to allow a landlord to terminate the...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
13 Jan 2020

RTA review fact sheet - No grounds terminations

READ
Should "no grounds" terminations by landlords be removed from the Residential Tenancies Act (the RTA)? Possible options No change to the law. Replace no grounds terminations by landlords with new...
Consumer Protection
Consultations / public comment
13 Jan 2020

Pages

Announcements

Property sale mistakes result in fine for York real estate agency (Avon Districts Professionals Pty Ltd / Nicola Di Giulio)

Mistakes made on a property sale contract have resulted in a York real estate agency and its operator being reprimanded and fined a total of $6,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT). Avon Districts Professionals Pty Ltd , trading as Westerntown & Country.com.au , and supervising agent Nicola Di Giulio were each fined $3,000 and both were ordered to pay $700 in costs for breaching the...
Consumer Protection
Media release
22 Nov 2019

Commissioner's Blog: Review of WA tenancy laws coming soon

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard It’s been more than 10 years since Western Australia’s tenancy laws were reviewed and times have certainly changed. So, Consumer Protection is set to review the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and we are going to want to hear from you. The high cost of owning a home means more people in WA are renting. Meanwhile people with investment...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Nov 2019

Insurance oversight costs owner-builder – Jonathon Robert Reardon

WA’s building regulator is urging owner-builders to ensure they fully understand their obligations after a Perth man was fined $2,400 for selling his house without the necessary home indemnity insurance. At Joondalup Magistrates Court on 1 November 2019, Jonathon Robert Reardon pleaded guilty to an offence under WA’s home building contract laws following a prosecution by Building and Energy. The...
Building and Energy
Media release
13 Nov 2019

Real estate agent fined for failing to cooperate with audit (Greg O’Farrell)

A real estate agent has been fined $500 and ordered to pay costs of $553.90 by the Mandurah Magistrates Court for failing to cooperate with requests from the auditor during the termination audit of his previous business. Gregory James O’Farrell , former Director of O’Farrell Property Group Pty Ltd of Mandurah, did not renew the company’s triennial certificate and the business ceased to operate in...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Nov 2019

Property manager and licensee to pay total of $9,700 over lapsed registration (Wendy Vettler / Teevor Pty Ltd t/as Remax Sunset Coast Real Estate / Thomas O’Rourke)

A real estate property manager and agency licensee have been ordered to pay a total of $9,700 by the State Administrative Tribunal after the property manager operated while her certificate of registration as a sales representative had expired. Property manager Wendy Maxine Caroline Vettler was fined $1,500 for breaching the Real Estate and Business Agents Act. Her employer Teevor Pty Ltd ,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Oct 2019

Commissioner's Blog: Rental property safety – being vigilant

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe We have received complaints from tenants recently about electrical hazards and gas leaks in rental properties. Issues include faulty electrical wiring, power sockets and appliances blowing, power shortages when raining, and water leaking onto electrical points. What to do if you suspect an electrical fault? At least two RCDs must be fitted...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Oct 2019

Scammed tenant changes locks, moves in to rental to the surprise of the agent

A real estate sales agent who was showing a prospective tenant a rental property in Beeliar recently was surprised to discover that someone had changed the locks and had already moved in without the authority of the owner. The tenant moved in after responding to a rental accommodation advertisement on Gumtree which ended up being fake. He paid $2,000 to the scammers via a money transfer service...
Consumer Protection
Media release
01 Oct 2019

Ten year ban for real estate sales rep for deceptive conduct (Matthew Liscia)

A real estate sales representative has been disqualified by the State Administrative Tribunal from holding a certificate of registration for ten years after he misappropriated two payments totalling $21,000 into his personal bank account. Matthew Piero Liscia of Dianella was fined $2,000 for two breaches of the relevant real estate industry Codes of Conduct and was also ordered to pay legal costs...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Sep 2019

Plans to scrap licences for auctioneers in WA

Removing the requirement to have a licence to be an auctioneer in WA is being proposed following a review of the Auction Sales Act. However, protections will be boosted with extra conduct standards and power for the Commissioner for Consumer Protection to take action to prevent unfit persons from working in the auction industry which covers the auctioning of all types of goods, including the sale...
Consumer Protection
Media release
17 Sep 2019

Commissioner's Blog: Drug contamination in homes

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’...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Sep 2019

Pages

Subscribe to Topics
Subscribe to RSS - Property industry