Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, often called ‘vapes’, are electronic devices designed to produce an aerosol that is inhaled into the lungs. There are many different styles of vapes available and they can be difficult to spot. The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless...
Status: CLOSED, Submissions closed at 5pm on 28 October 2019 Background In late 2018, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) commenced a Regional Services Review to improve service delivery to our regional customers. DMIRS staff and State and Local Government stakeholders...
In 2019, Consumer Protection began reviewing the Residential Tenancies Act to consider potential improvements required to keep pace with Western Australia’s changing tenancy market. Following extensive consultation, the first phase of rent reforms was passed by...
There are two ways the property you're renting can be repossessed by: the mortgagee such as a bank or other financial lender, or a person with superior title such as a Government authority. An application to the Supreme Court must be made for possession of the rental property. During that process...
The Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act 1970 (DUG Act) is being reviewed to examine the processes for disposing of uncollected goods Status: CLOSED , closed 31 October 2019. Background The purpose of this review is to update the DUG Act’s provisions, which are outdated and do not take into account...
The State Government has been working to make retirement village laws fairer for residents whilst supporting the sector with the introduction of reforms to the Retirement Villages Act 1992 . Every stage of the retirement living journey has been considered, from making it easier to choose a suitable...
If you have clients experiencing family and domestic violence in their rental home they can chose to stay or leave. See more on the Violence in a rental home page. Factsheets and useful information Safe Tenancy WA poster Department of Communities - family and domestic violence support and advice...
LP Gas cylinder safety in bush fire prone areas Guidelines on the storage of LP Gas cylinders on properties in bush fire prone areas. LP Gas cylinder safety in bush fire prone areas brochure The guidelines aim to help residents reduce the risks associated with LP Gas cylinders should a fire...
Consumer Protection is advising tenants to be wary of products that are advertised as cheaper alternatives to rental bonds. These products are not legal in Western Australia. How ‘bond replacement’ products compare to bonds Bonds At the start of a lease, tenants may be asked to pay a bond, usually...
This overview explains how personal information is collected, used and disclosed by the Bond Administrator and officers authorised under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and the Residential Parks (Long-stay tenants) Act 2006 (the Acts). Personal information collected by the Bond Administrator...
16 August 2023 New licence qualification A new qualification has been added to the Real Estate and Business Agents (General) Regulations 1979 (WA) for the grant of a Real Estate and Business Agent...
A regulated person they can apply for an exemption from completing elective CPD activities on a pro-rata basis if they have completed: a module from the Diploma of Property Services (Agency...
Real estate agents and property managers must issue a bond receipt and keep records of bonds. Bond receipts and records Receipt: When a tenant pays a bond by electronic transfer, the agent must issue...
29 June 2023 It’s trust account audit time! July is the perfect time to start preparing and referring trust account information to your auditor so the 2022-23 audit report can be completed by the 30...
23 June 2023 Minimising the risk of mould in a rental property Mould or dampness can pose a serious health risk, as well as cause structural damage to rental properties. The risk of mould increases...
9 June 2023 Update on the review of residential tenancy laws in Western Australia Consumer Protection has reveiwed the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA) to identify changes that adapt to the...
31 May 2023 WA ScamNet has received reports of a scam that has successfully targeted one Western Australian real estate agent and two settlement agents. Real estate agent lost $43,080 and two...
31 May 2023 WA ScamNet has received reports of a scam that has successfully targeted one Western Australian real estate agent and two settlement agents. Real estate agent lost $43,080 and two...
11 May 2023 Breaking a lease Although a tenancy agreement is a binding contract, a tenant’s circumstances can change during the term of a fixed-term tenancy agreement and this can cause them to need...
Statutory Review will assess effectiveness of the special family and domestic violence provisions in tenancy laws Community consultation will determine if laws need fine-tuning Consultation begins with the 16 Days in WA campaign to end violence against women getting underway later this week Special provisions in tenancy laws aimed at helping renters in situations of family and domestic violence (...
Two new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheets are now available. The new FAQs cover digital identity and the WA Relationship Authorisation Manager (WARAM). The My Account FAQ has also been updated. The FAQs provide answers to common questions such as: What is a digital identity and why we need to protect it? What is the WARAM and how can it benefit our customers and their business ? Both new...
Residual current devices (RCDs) should be tested at the start of each season Life-saving switches protect against electrocution, serious injury and fire Simple test only takes a few minutes and could save a life With a new season underway, the State’s energy safety regulator is urging home owners to do a simple check of their residual current devices (RCDs) – the life-saving switches that protect...
Fake social media ads use stolen images of legitimate rental properties Desperate people looking for rentals vulnerable to falling victim $41,000 lost to rental scams already this year, exceeding last year’s total People eager to secure a rental property amid WA’s tight market are falling victim to scammers using social media accounts to post fake ‘to let’ ads. So far this year, WA ScamNet at...
Rockingham real estate agency and licensee fined a total of $23,000 Inaccuracies in trust account records and tenancy bonds lodged too late Warning to agents to ensure trust account accuracy and timely bond lodgements A Rockingham real estate agency and its licensee have been fined a total of $23,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) for failing to lodge tenancy bonds with the Bond...
Land valuer fined $4,000 for failing to meet accepted industry standards Inaccurate valuations have implications for buyers, sellers and tax purposes Maintaining standards is vital in upholding community confidence in the industry An Applecross land valuer has been reprimanded and fined $4,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal for failing to maintain basic industry standards when preparing...
The two rental applicants received fake emails saying they were successful Payments to secure the property were sent to the scammers’ bank account Potential tenants are left out of pocket and without rental accommodation Two people searching for a rental have lost a total of $23,500 after scammers appeared to have hacked into a Perth western suburbs’ real estate agency’s email account. Consumer...
Landlord failed to lodge seven bonds with the Bonds Administrator $1,000 fine after Consumer Protection takes prosecution action Laws designed to keep tenants’ funds safe and secure A Mt Magnet landlord has been fined $1,000 and ordered to pay costs of $1,184.50 by the Perth Magistrates Court after being convicted of failing to lodge tenancy bonds with the Bond Administrator. Ian Black , who is a...
Email communications between home buyer and settlement agent hacked Request for payment with false bank account details sent to buyer Loss brings 2022 total for payment redirection scams to more than a million dollars A WA woman has reported to Consumer Protection losing about $732,000 after scammers intercepted email communications between her and her settlement agent in relation to the purchase...
Unauthorised withdrawal of a $50,000 deposit after business sale settlement Business broker and his company fined a total of $7,000 plus $1,000 in costs Warning that violations of trust account laws will not be tolerated A West Perth business sales agent and his company have been fined by the State Administrative Tribunal after making an unauthorised $50,000 withdrawal from the agency’s trust...
