Home buyer / owner

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Aged care housing

Residential aged care facilities provide accommodation and care ranging from low to high level care. The Seniors housing guide has general information available on aged care. Many of these care facilities are regulated by the Federal Government and entry is based on your care needs, as determined...
Specialised accommodation
12 Feb 2014

Real estate complaints

If you are dissatisfied with the standard of conduct of a settlement agent, real estate agent or sales representative, the following course of action is recommended: Step 1: Contact the settlement agent, real estate agent or sales representative (or the real estate agent in control of the...
Land valuers, real estate and settlement agents
12 Feb 2014

Fidelity guarantee account

The Fidelity Guarantee Account helps provide financial reimbursement to people who suffer pecuniary loss or loss of property through the criminal or fraudulent actions of a licensed real estate or business agent, real estate settlement or business settlement agent or their employees in the course...
Land valuers, real estate and settlement agents
12 Feb 2014

Help to stay at home advice for seniors

Many people prefer to stay in their home and maintain their independence as they age. Staying at home in the environment you know, with familiar neighbours, shops and other facilities may be a good option, but sometimes you might need assistance to remain at home. The help to stay in your home fact...
Your own home
12 Feb 2014

Settlement fees

Settlement agents set their own fees which must be disclosed to the client in writing prior to entering into any agreement. Agents must not receive a fee above the disclosed amount unless there is a significant change in the scope of the work. Removing the cap and deregulating fees will allow...
Land valuers, real estate and settlement agents
12 Feb 2014

Settlement agents

Unless you are a suitably qualified lawyer, it would be very unwise to try to carry out the settlement of your own property. It's a complex and time consuming business, with many traps for the unwary. When you are buying a property, it is necessary for all the paperwork to be completed and all the...
Land valuers, real estate and settlement agents
12 Feb 2014

Types of RCDs

WATCH
An RCD can save lives. RCDs will prevent electrocution by cutting the power to a circuit in the event of earth leakage. Following are descriptions and images of devices including RCDs, circuit breakers, combination RCD and circuit breaker, portable RCDs, and powerpoint RCDs. RCDs [scald=512:...
Residual current devices (RCDs)
12 Feb 2014

Using a real estate agent

When you are looking at properties, you will often come into contact with real estate agents or sales representatives. The most important thing to understand about real estate agents or sales representatives when buying a property is that they have been hired by the seller. The aim of the agent is...
Land valuers, real estate and settlement agents
12 Feb 2014

Units / Strata titles advice for seniors

Some people choose to sell their home and 'down size' by buying a unit or apartment, which are often strata titled. A strata title is a certificate of title for a lot and a share in the common property in a strata scheme set up under the Strata Titles Act 1985 . The strata scheme dictates what you...
Your own home
12 Feb 2014

Buying or building advice for seniors

You may be living in a home you own or have a mortgage on, but wish to sell and buy or build another one. This might be because you want a smaller garden, to downsize your house or you want to change location. Downsizing can provide many benefits: You can buy a newer home which incorporates...
Your own home
12 Feb 2014

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Announcements

Fine increase for electrical firm after appeal – Jason Aaron Nominees Pty Ltd

A Perth business that failed to provide documents to State Government electrical safety inspectors has been fined $25,000 on appeal after the Supreme Court ruled that the original $3,000 penalty was manifestly inadequate. Jason Aaron Nominees Pty Ltd , based in Willetton, was resentenced for breaching the Energy Coordination Act by not providing records requested by Energy Safety (now Building...
Building and Energy
Media release
04 Jun 2019

RCD requirements after 1 January 2019

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...
Building and Energy
Department News
27 May 2019

Commissioner's Blog: New tenancy laws to support those affected by family violence

david_hillyard_sq.jpg
david_hillyard_sq.jpg, by sroberts
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...
Consumer Protection
Department News
18 Apr 2019

DMIRS 2019 Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey

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...
Consumer Protection
Department News
29 Apr 2019

Commissioner's Blog – Be aware of the signs of a stressed ceiling

david_hillyard_sq.jpg
david_hillyard_sq.jpg, by sroberts
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...
Building and Energy
Department News
03 Apr 2019

Using gas appliances safely

Now summer is officially over, our attention may soon turn to gas heaters and other gas appliances in the home. A recent safety alert affecting four popular gas heaters is a timely reminder that any gas equipment should be used and maintained correctly to avoid potentially dangerous consequences. Along with our colleagues at Building and Energy (formerly Energy Safety ), Consumer Protection is...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Mar 2019

Make moving smooth sailing

Moving house is an activity guaranteed to set the stress levels soaring, so it helps to know how to avoid potential nasty surprises when engaging the services of a furniture removalist. Whether you’re moving down the street or across the country, it is a time-consuming and often expensive exercise dreaded by most. A moving ‘to-do’ list can seem endless. Not only do you need to find a new place to...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Mar 2019

Warning to WA home owners over roof repair conmen

WA home owners are being warned by Consumer Protection and Building and Energy not to deal with roof repair conmen who have approached three consumers, with one handing over $7,000 for work that wasn’t carried out. One of the consumers was approached at his home by three men in a white ute wearing fluoro shirts who told him that his roof and gutters needed urgent repairs. The dodgy door knockers...
Building and Energy
Media release
21 Mar 2019

Safety alert affects four open-flued gas heaters

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...
Building and Energy
Media release
12 Mar 2019

Propping your pool gate open is a matter of life and death

Building and Energy is alerting owners and occupiers of properties with swimming or spa pools about the significant risks of propping open a pool gate. Statistics show that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children under five years of age, with many such tragedies occurring in domestic pools. Building laws in Western Australia require swimming and spa pools with water more...
Building and Energy
Media release
17 Jan 2019

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