Consumer

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Video – Information on the Building and Energy dispute resolution service

Building and Energy provides an avenue for both consumers and builders to resolve disputes relating to workmanship and contractual issues in connection with a regulated building service or home building work contract. This video provides detailed information on the dispute resolution process...
Building complaints
20 Feb 2023

Human factors: Information sheets

These information sheets provide information on how human factors can contribute to a sequence of events that lead to a major incident and how the inclusion of human factors can assist major hazard facility operations. Human factors in the HAZOP process This information sheet provides information...
Human factors
02 Feb 2023

Managing short-term rental accommodation

The Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) register is an initiative of the Western Australian (WA) Government through the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act 2024 to gather information on the STRA sector in WA. This information is needed to ensure that we have a clear, information based, picture...
Holiday accommodation
17 Nov 2022

Sale of unsafe open flued gas space heaters prohibited

As of the 10 October 2022, the sale of open-flued gas space heaters that don’t have safety shutdown features has been prohibited. This includes the sale of new and second hand heaters. The prohibition took effect on 10 October 2022 . What are the safety concerns? It’s possible for open-flued gas...
Gas appliances
13 Oct 2022

Guidelines for the safety of buildings near network operator assets

The Guidelines for the safety of buildings near network operator assets are issued under Section 33AA of the Electricity Act 1945 . The risks and potential consequences of an electrical incident involving building encroachments too near network operator assets are significant, especially for high...
Information for industry
18 Aug 2022

Video – Building supply chain delays

WATCH
Building or renovating a home can be an exciting and rewarding time. However, you need to be aware that the construction industry in WA, like elsewhere in Australia, is experiencing major shortages of materials and skilled workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions to global trade. This...
Building a home in challenging times
22 Jul 2022

Dangerous incident

If a ‘dangerous incident’ arises through the conduct of a business or undertaking the regulator must be notified immediately. Where the dangerous incident is currently life-threatening, the PCBU should ensure the regulator is notified by calling 1800 678 198 (24 hours). Where the dangerous incident...
Report an incident
29 Jun 2022

Building a home in challenging times

The WA building industry is currently impacted by an Australia-wide shortage of building materials and skilled workers, which is affecting project timeframes and costs. This is not unique to WA and is happening across the world. A guide to building a home in challenging times Content on this...
Building a home in challenging times
17 May 2022

Residential building material and labour shortages

The current, Australia-wide shortage of building materials and skilled trades is impacting the residential construction industry in Western Australia. Supply of building materials has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and increased building activity following the State and Federal stimulus...
Building a home in challenging times
17 May 2022

Price increases to home building work contracts

This information relates to home building work contracts that fall within the scope of the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (the Act) – that is, contracts for home building work valued between $7,500 and $500,000. The Act sets out the minimum contract terms and provides circumstances when a builder...
Building a home in challenging times
17 May 2022

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Publications

Building disputes monthly report – December 2023

READ
An overview of building disputes for the month of December 2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
22 Jan 2024

Building disputes monthly report – November 2023

READ
An overview of building disputes for the month of November 2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
22 Dec 2023

Agency Commissioning Plan - Community Services

READ
Section 1: Strategic plan for commissioning community services Background In August 2022, the WA Government released the State Commissioning Strategy for Community Services (Strategy) with the...
Consumer Protection
Reports
21 Dec 2023

Progress Report - Local Government periodic inspections of private swimming pool safety barriers 2022–23

READ
This Report is the fifth annual report on the progress of local governments’ pool inspection programs and is in response to recommendation 7 of the Ombudsman WA report Investigation into ways to...
Building and Energy
Reports
08 Dec 2023

Building disputes monthly report – October 2023

READ
An overview of building disputes for the month of October 2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
17 Nov 2023

Complaint form – Authority to act

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This complaint from is to be lodged on behalf of a person or entity, or during a complaints process where parties select another person to act on their behalf.
Building and Energy
Form – application
26 Oct 2023

Building disputes monthly report – September 2023

READ
An overview of building disputes for the month of September 2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
16 Oct 2023

Translations – Building and Energy's Top 10 tips: Choosing a builder and signing a home building contract

READ
Important guidance for beginning the building process including tips for choosing a builder and signing your home building work contract. Available in Chinese Simplified (Mandarin), Vietnamese,...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
07 Nov 2023

Building disputes monthly report – August 2023

READ
An overview of building disputes for the month of August 2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
28 Sep 2023

Annual building disputes report 2022-23

READ
An overview of building disputes for the financial year of 2022-2023.
Building and Energy
Reports
30 Aug 2023

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Announcements

Big fines for odometer tampering duo

Odometer tampering convictions for licensed salesperson and his friend Pair pocketed large profits after wiping combined 410,000km from two vehicles Used car buyers reminded about importance of log-books A pair of car sellers who rolled back the odometers on two vehicles by more than 200,000 kilometres each have been convicted and fined a total of $51,000 by the Joondalup Magistrates Court. Zoran...
Consumer Protection
Media release
17 Oct 2024

$24,000 penalty for electrical offences – Buchanan Electrical Holdings Pty Ltd and Scott Buchanan

A Perth electrician and his company have been ordered to pay more than $24,000 in fines and costs for testing and notification offences after a switchboard in Beechboro was left unprotected from electrical hazards. Scott Buchanan (EW168374) and licensed electrical contractor Buchanan Electrical Holdings Pty Ltd (EC12581) entered written guilty pleas at Midland Magistrates Court for two matters...
Building and Energy
Media release
17 Oct 2024

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 16 October 2024), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 35 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
15 Oct 2024

Commerce Minister statement – Agreement delivers clear path forward for Nicheliving homeowners

Media statement from Commerce Minister Sue Ellery Nicheliving to lose building contractor registration, with directors barred from seeking re-registration for 10 years Company withdraws State Administrative Tribunal review application meaning decision to refuse to renew the company's building contractor registration stands Homeowners now able to continue with home indemnity insurance claims and...
Building and Energy
Media release
11 Oct 2024

Commissioner's Blog: Proof of purchase putting consumers in a bind

Receipts have become a big issue, with consumers reporting they are not receiving proof of purchase for items above $75. It doesn’t stop there, there have been a number of concerning consumer complaints about local businesses denying paper receipts and instead requesting personal information to issue proof of purchase electronically.
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Oct 2024

Campaign targets purchase of safe electrical appliances

WA’s energy safety regulator, Building and Energy, has launched a new campaign encouraging consumers to check for a safety and compliance symbol when buying electrical appliances and equipment. Unapproved electrical appliances and equipment can pose serious risks, such as electric shock and fire. It is illegal to sell household electrical appliances that are not approved by an Australian...
Building and Energy
Media release
10 Oct 2024

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. After today motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 9 October 2024), the average price of Perth’s regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by 36 cents per...
Consumer Protection
Media release
08 Oct 2024

Don't let Halloween be a killer - tips on detecting unsafe products

As Halloween approaches, families who embrace the tradition are being reminded to prioritise safety when shopping online and in-store.
Consumer Protection
Media release
08 Oct 2024

$50,000 penalty for former directors of Flexible Homes – Pavreet Singh and MD Touhidul Islam Sunny

Customers led to believe they were building with Flexible Homes Contracts actually with third-party building contractors Flexible Homes entered liquidation in 2023 The former directors of Flexible Homes Pty Ltd have been fined a combined $50,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal, which found the now-insolvent builder engaged in conduct that was misleading during three building projects in...
Building and Energy
Media release
07 Oct 2024

Commissioner's Blog: Under the influence

Have you ever seen a social media post with the hashtag ‘spon’ or ‘sp’ and wondered what it meant? This can often be an attempt to disclose they were paid, given gifts, or provided with other incentives to create the post. Consumer Protection argues this is a very sneaky tactic. Last year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) conducted a sweep of social media influencers and...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Oct 2024

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