Home buyer / owner

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Releasing or claiming a bond (Bond disposal)

A simpler way is coming in 2025: Commissioner decisions A landlord or tenant will be able to apply for a Commissioner determination. The bond claim is reviewed and a decision made on how it will be paid out, without having to go to Court. Bond money is returned to tenants at the end of their...
Bonds
12 Feb 2014

Changing a bond (Bond variation)

A security bond may need to be changed when there is a change in: Rent - rent increase may also mean the tenant has to top up the bond Property ownership Managing agent Tenants in a shared house On this page: Bond top up Change of owner or agent Change of tenant in a share house. Bond top-up A bond...
Bonds
12 Feb 2014

Rent inspections

The lessor (landlord or agent) has the right to carry out routine inspections on the property no more than four times a year. Inspections must be at a reasonable hour. Tenant's should receive between seven and 14 days' notice. The lessor must make a reasonable effort to negotiate a more suitable...
Security, safety, maintenance and entry rights
12 Feb 2014

Lodging a bond

It is the landlord’s responsibility to lodge the tenant(s) rental security bond. The bond must be lodged with Bonds Administration as soon as possible and no later than 14 days after the tenant(s) pays. The lodgement form must include: names of all tenants on the agreement, regardless of who paid...
Bonds
12 Feb 2014

Counting days

If you are serving a notice or issuing documentation (eg property condition reports), you will find certain periods of notice are required for certain actions. It is important you allow the correct number of days for the delivery of a notice because a court may determine the notice is ineffective...
Notices and condition reports
12 Feb 2014

Using rental notices

Proper procedures must be observed when serving a notice. If the matter ends up in court, the person who prepared the notice would have to prove the notice was served correctly. Three handy charts were developed to help you understand the use and service on notices, particularly for the breach and...
Notices and condition reports
12 Feb 2014

Property condition reports

Property condition reports are a requirement when renting a home. They show what the property looks like at the beginning and end of the rental period. They can be used to check fair wear and tear or damage and who is responsible for maintenance or repairs . They are important evidence if there is...
Notices and condition reports
06 Feb 2014

Rental agreements

A rental agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the landlord and the tenant. These can also be called tenancy agreements or leases. There are two types of rental agreements: Periodic - an agreement with no end date. Fixed term - an agreement with a set end date What tenants must be...
Beginning a tenancy
06 Feb 2014

Boarders and lodgers

It’s important to know whether you're a tenant or a boarder/lodger because your rights and protections are different. It can be tricky to figure out if you’re a boarder/lodger or a tenant/sub-tenant because it depends on your specific situation. Boarders or lodgers Generally, you are more likely to...
Types of rental accommodation
06 Feb 2014

Are you bush fire ready?

Western Australia has some of the driest climatic regions in Australia and is prone to bush fire attack, particularly around the south west regions. In the past few years there have been numerous fire events that have devastated bushland areas and destroyed or damaged properties. Building and...
Building in bush fire prone areas
22 Jan 2014

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Announcements

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

Trajectory for Low Energy Homes Stakeholder workshops

The national Stakeholder Reference Group workshop for the trajectory for low energy homes project will be held in Perth on 21 June 2018. The free information session, also being held in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, aims to seek feedback from stakeholders on the initial findings from the cost benefit analysis and the draft report. Date and time: Thursday 21 June 2018, 10.00am–12.30pm Venue: ATI...
Building and Energy
Department News
14 Jun 2018

Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas 2018

The 2018 edition of the Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas (the Map) comes into effect on Friday 1 June 2018. The Map will be available on the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) website on the afternoon of Thursday 31 May 2018. This edition of the Map will show both ‘new’ bush fire prone areas and those ‘continuing’ from earlier editions of the Map. All bush fire prone areas will be...
Building and Energy
Department News
29 May 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

Building permit: amending builder's details

The Building Commission has produced a guidance note and new Building Act form to deal with amending a building permit to substitute a replacement builder where the builder is unable to continue the building work. This is generally due to insolvency, death or disappearance. Building Act Guidance Note – Building permit: amending builder's details BA19 – Request to amend building permit Enquiries...
Building and Energy
Department News
19 Dec 2017

Notice of company in liquidation (SRM Construction Pty Ltd, reg. BC12999)

On 16 August 2017 building company SRM Construction Pty Ltd (reg. BC12999) appointed Michael Joseph Ryan and Ian Charles Francis of FTI Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd as joint liquidators of the company. The Building Commission is investigating claims that home owners may not have received a valid policy of home indemnity insurance from the builder in accordance with its obligations under the...
Building and Energy
Department News
22 Aug 2017

Notice of building company in external administration (Ravlich & Clent Constructions Pty Ltd, reg. BC13924)

On 2 August 2017 building company Ravlich & Clent Constructions Pty Ltd (reg. BC13924) voluntarily appointed Shaun Boyle of DCS Advisory as the administrator of the company. Home owners who have entered into a home building work contract with Ravlich & Clent Constructions and have unfinished, faulty or unsatisfactory work should be covered by home indemnity insurance (HII). They are...
Building and Energy
Department News
04 Aug 2017

Trade services advertising websites

The emergence of online advertising sites, such as Gumtree, Airtasker and hipages, has made finding a tradesperson easier than ever. These websites either promote the services of a tradesperson or offer consumers a forum for requesting a task to be completed. And while these websites are a convenient way to connect with a builder, building surveyor, painter or plumber the websites do not...
Building and Energy
Department News
11 Jul 2017

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