Tenant

Topics

Preparing for court - rental disputes

You should understand the section(s) of the Act your case relates to. You should read the Act or seek general advice from the department. You can can seek private legal advice. Some tenants can also obtain legal advice from a Community Legal Centre . Dedicate sufficient time to the preparation of...
Having problems with renting a home?
12 Feb 2014

Applying for a court hearing - rental disputes

All applications to the Magistrates Court must be made online using the Electronic Document Lodgement Service. Supporting documents must also be submitted electronically before the court date via the eCourts Portal (eCourts). An exemption to this rule can sometimes be obtained by contacting the...
Having problems with renting a home?
12 Feb 2014

Common renting terms

A glossary for residential tenancies Assign the premises : To transfer rights to occupy the premises and associated responsibilities to another person. Bond: Money paid by the tenant and held by the Bond Administrator as security against damage to the premises. Breach of agreement: The breaking of...
Renting tools
12 Feb 2014

Add or remove a tenant from a database

When can a person be listed on a database? A person can only be listed on a residential tenancy database if: they were named as a tenant in a residential tenancy agreement that has ended; they breached the agreement; and because of the breach either: they still owe more than the security bond...
Renting tools
12 Feb 2014

Going to court about rental property issues

If disputes about rental property issues cannot be resolved privately or by using Consumer Protection’s free conciliation service, you may need to apply for an order from the Magistrates Court of Western Australia (Magistrates Court). It is important for all parties to keep detailed records...
Having problems with renting a home?
12 Feb 2014

Tenancy databases

Tenancy databases may be used by lessors as a way of screening prospective tenants. Tenancy databases may be used by lessors (landlords) or real estate agents as a way of screening people who have applied to rent a property. They are commonly referred to as “blacklists” or “bad tenant databases”...
Renting tools
12 Feb 2014

Disputes about bonds

The way you manage a dispute about the disposal of a bond depends on the type of accommodation you are renting. Residential tenancy At the end of a tenancy, the landlord and tenant/s must agree on the bond disposal. Sometimes issues may arise. Reviewing property condition reports and seeking advice...
Bonds
12 Feb 2014

Paying rates and utilities

The following information explains what payments can be passed on from council rates, water, gas and electricity charges. Council rates Tenancy agreements from 1 July 2013 cannot make a tenant liable for paying council rates. For a tenancy agreement prior to 1 July 2013 that has not been renewed,...
Rent and other payments
12 Feb 2014

Serious damage or injury - rental disputes

If the tenant is causing or is likely to cause serious damage to a property, or where relevant, common areas or chattels within a common area, or the landlord believes they could injure an agent, a neighbour or the landlord, the landlord can apply immediately to the Magistrates Court for an order...
Having problems with renting a home?
12 Feb 2014

Pet bonds

If the tenant is permitted to keep pets capable of carrying parasites which can affect humans, a pet bond may be charged. The pet bond can only be applied to the cost of any fumigation of the premises that may be required at the termination of the tenancy. Lessors/agents must lodge the security...
Bonds
12 Feb 2014

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Publications

Minimum levels of security - residential tenancy laws

READ
Minimum levels of security - residential tenancy laws
Consumer Protection
Guidance note
06 Apr 2020

Guide to new reforms for retirement villages

READ
Guide to new reforms for retirement villages
Consumer Protection
Guide / handbook
18 Apr 2018

Flowchart guides to time caps on recurrent changes (retirement villages)

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Flowchart guides to time caps on recurrent changes - residential premises permanently vacated BEFORE 1 April 2014 (retirement villages) Flowchart guides to time caps on recurrent changes -...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
03 Jul 2019

Major damage to your rental property - Information for landlords

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Landlords can get information about their rights and responsibilities from Consumer Protection. Common questions are answered below and contact details are on this factsheet. Common questions My...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
14 Apr 2019

Major damage to your rental property - Information for tenants

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Information for tenants Consumer Protection can help with renting questions – contact details are provided on this factsheet. Common questions The house has been destroyed. What happens to my lease?...
Consumer Protection
Fact sheet
14 Apr 2019

Pool safety and the rental property: Real estate bulletin issue 163 (November 2017)

24 November 2017 As summer approaches it’s time to consider if the pools and spas in rental properties conform to safety requirements. Pools and spas must be appropriately fenced according to the...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
28 Nov 2017

Pool safety and your rental property: Landlord bulletin issue 16 (November 2017)

24 November 2017 As summer approaches it’s time to check that the pool or spa at your rental property conforms to safety requirements. The pool or spa must have appropriate safety barriers according...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
28 Nov 2017

Renewed warning after another loss from WA property sale scam: Settlement agents bulletin issue 75 (November 2017)

24 November 2017 Another loss from a cyber-attack that intercepted a property sale transaction has triggered Consumer Protection to issue a renewed warning to buyers, sellers, tenants and agents in...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
23 Jan 2018

Renewed warning after another loss from WA property sale scam: Real estate bulletin issue number 162 (November 2017)

24 November 2017 Another loss from a cyber-attack that intercepted a property sale transaction has triggered Consumer Protection to issue a renewed warning to buyers, sellers, tenants and agents in...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
28 Nov 2017

Fire safety in existing apartment buildings

READ
While apartment living has many advantages, the fire at the Grenfell Tower in London and other fire events in Australia and around the world have highlighted the importance of fire safety in high-...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
03 Oct 2017

Pages

Announcements

Landlords’ event to unpack tenancy law changes

Consumer Protection is encouraging Perth landlords to attend a Shelter WA Homelessness Week Event, to learn about ways to help tenants experiencing family violence and other serious problems. Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said the ‘Landlords Making A Difference’ session on 9 August in Maylands is a great opportunity for owners of rental homes to hear from government,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Jul 2018

Don’t be blind to smoke alarm laws

Residential property owners in WA need to be on the ball when it comes to smoke alarms and the laws governing them. The recent house fire in Thornlie, where two lives were lost, is a tragic and timely reminder of the importance of the alarms as in that case the alarm was found not to be working. Western Australian laws require the owner of a dwelling to have compliant smoke alarms and residual...
Building and Energy
Media release
27 Jun 2018

Commissioner's Blog: Mould can be a big problem in rentals

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard While WA’s high rainfall this year has been good for farmers and the dams, it has one adverse consequence and that is a spike in enquiries and complaints to Consumer Protection about mould in rental properties. It is a significant issue with about 1,200 phone enquiries and complaints received since January 2015, mostly during the winter...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Oct 2017

Commissioner's Blog: No place for family violence

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard No place for family violence Did you know WA is second only to the NT when it comes to rates of family and domestic violence (FDV) and there were more than 50,000 reported incidents across the State in 2016-17? Sadly, family violence is a growing problem in our community and the abuse, whether physical or psychological, often occurs in...
Consumer Protection
Department News
29 May 2018

Reminder of electrical hazards when working in roof spaces

Building and Energy (formerly EnergySafety) and WorkSafe have issued a reminder on the importance of understanding and avoiding the electrical hazards in roof spaces, with new regulations coming into effect on Monday (14 May 2018). Director of Energy Safety Ken Bowron today cautioned homeowners to be mindful of the electrical hazards in roof spaces. “Homeowners may need to access the roof space...
WorkSafe
Media release
11 May 2018

Late bond lodgements result in $8,000 fine for real estate agency (Verse Property Group)

An East Victoria Park real estate agency has been fined $8,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for the late lodgement of tenancy bonds to the Bond Administrator. Verse (Aust) Pty Ltd , trading as Verse Property Group , was also ordered to pay $505 in costs after pleading guilty on 2 March 2018 to charges of breaching the Residential Tenancies Act by failing to lodge eight bonds amounting to $12,...
Consumer Protection
Media release
08 Mar 2018

Smoke alarms in dwellings proposed for demolition

Western Australia’s Building Regulations 2012 require owners of residential dwellings to have compliant smoke alarms installed prior to the sale, transfer of ownership, rent or hire of the dwelling.
Building and Energy
Department News
20 Dec 2017

Tenancy law changes to support victims of domestic violence

Extensive tenancy reforms designed to support, not penalise, victims Removing barriers to support people to leave abusive relationships The McGowan Government will introduce proposed changes to tenancy laws aimed at supporting tenants who are victims of family and domestic violence in Western Australia. State Cabinet has approved amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act and the Residential...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Dec 2017

Renewed warning after another loss from WA property sale scam

Another loss from a cyber-attack that intercepted a property sale transaction has triggered Consumer Protection to issue a renewed warning to buyers, sellers, tenants and agents in WA to be extra vigilant. In the latest case, the buyer of a Karrinyup property lost $20,000 after cyber criminals sent an email purporting to be from his real estate agent requesting the deposit be paid into a bank...
Consumer Protection
Media release
24 Nov 2017

Second conviction for property manager operating without a licence (Josephine Wei-Wei Liau / Emerald Property Management)

A Wandi property manager has been fined $5,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for operating without a licence and a current triennial certificate. Josephine Wei-Wei Liau was also ordered to pay costs of $1,784 after being convicted on 20 November 2017 for holding herself out as a real estate agent and demanding and receiving monies in respect of services as an agent while unlicensed. Ms Liau was...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Nov 2017

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