Whether you have been renting a home for many years or are just about to jump into the rental market for the first time, it’s important to be aware of your rights and responsibilities.

Residential tenancy matters make up a large part of the work we do at Consumer Protection. Our contact centre refers more than 100 calls from tenants each week to our Property Industries team for assistance.

Part of our role is to provide free advice to all parties in a residential tenancy agreement, look into complaints and, wherever possible, help settle disputes.

We’ve just launched a new bulletin service for tenants so we can better keep you informed and deliver the latest news to your email inbox.

The first edition of the Tenants’ Bulletin has now gone out highlighting the resources and services we provide.

Future editions will tackle frequently asked questions such as how bonds work and who is responsible for repairs, or provide information on matters that you should know about. These include why Property Condition reports are important and what you need to do to protect your interests.

Additionally, the bulletins will keep you updated with law changes that may impact on you.

So where is a good place to start if you are looking for some general advice before you head out to look for a property or sign a rental agreement?

Legal obligations which relate to renting a home are regulated by the Residential Tenancies Act 1987. The bulletin points to our publication ‘Renting a Home in Western Australia – a Tenant’s Guide’, which is a great source of information.

The guide outlines the laws that protect both you and your landlord and is designed to help you avoid common renting pitfalls. It is available on our website and we recommend you save a copy, or keep it bookmarked in your browser, as a handy quick reference.

The guide contains detailed information on everything from payment of rent to urgent repairs and right of entry by the landlord.

And if videos are more your style, then the bulletin also contains a link to a series of short films on our website about getting started, moving in and ending your tenancy. To assist tenants, these videos are available in several different languages.

The bulletin also recommends our iRentWA app for iOS and Android phones. iRentWA gives you quick access to information about your rights and obligations as a tenant, as well as tools to help you manage your tenancy.

You can use the app to store documents, receipts and photos. It also sets reminders for key dates relating to your tenancy.

You can view previous editions of the Tenants’ Bulletin as well as subscribe to receive future issues at www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au.  We also encourage you to email your content suggestions to our Property Industries team at pinews@demirs.wa.gov.au.

For more information call us on 1300 304 054, email consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au or visit www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au. For bonds related enquiries call 1300 853 829 or email Bonds.Admin@demirs.wa.gov.au.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard