Tenant

Topics

Applying for a court hearing - rental disputes

All applications to the Magistrates Court must be made online using the Electronic Document Lodgement Service. Supporting documents must also be submitted electronically before the court date via the eCourts Portal (eCourts). An exemption to this rule can sometimes be obtained by contacting the...
Having problems with renting a home?
12 Feb 2014

Common renting terms

A glossary for residential tenancies Assign the premises : To transfer rights to occupy the premises and associated responsibilities to another person. Bond: Money paid by the tenant and held by the Bond Administrator as security against damage to the premises. Breach of agreement: The breaking of...
Renting tools
12 Feb 2014

Add or remove a tenant from a database

When can a person be listed on a database? A person can only be listed on a residential tenancy database if: they were named as a tenant in a residential tenancy agreement that has ended; they breached the agreement; and because of the breach either: they still owe more than the security bond...
Renting tools
12 Feb 2014

Going to court about rental property issues

If disputes about rental property issues cannot be resolved privately or by using Consumer Protection’s free conciliation service, you may need to apply for an order from the Magistrates Court of Western Australia (Magistrates Court). It is important for all parties to keep detailed records...
Having problems with renting a home?
12 Feb 2014

Tenancy databases

Tenancy databases may be used by lessors as a way of screening prospective tenants. Tenancy databases may be used by lessors (landlords) or real estate agents as a way of screening people who have applied to rent a property. They are commonly referred to as “blacklists” or “bad tenant databases”...
Renting tools
12 Feb 2014

Paying bills, rates and utilities when renting

Your rental agreement should cover responsibility for bills such as, if any: bills are covered in the rent bills are managed by the landlord services and bills need to be organised by the tenant directly with service provider permission is required to connect services bills need to be split and how...
Rent and other payments
12 Feb 2014

Renting with pets

In most cases, tenants can keep a pet but they must get their landlord’s permission first. A landlord can ask the tenant to pay a pet bond. Assistance animals A pet means any animal except an assistance animal. Assistance animals are trained to help a person with a disability and do not count as...
Beginning a tenancy
12 Feb 2014

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

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Publications

Direct Debit Request (DDR) Service Agreement

READ
This is the Direct Debit Request (DDR) Service Agreement with the Bond Administrator, (Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety) APCA ID 067 469. It explains what a User’s...
Consumer Protection
Information
14 Aug 2024

Safe Tenancy WA poster and factsheet

READWATCH
Renters affected by family and domestic violence (FDV) can: Go Exit a tenancy agreement without going to court, with as little as 7 days’ notice. S tay Remove a perpetrator’s name from a lease by...
Consumer Protection
Poster
13 Dec 2022

Family and domestic violence updates, gas heater safety alert correction, and it's tax scam time! - Tenants bulletin issue 7

30 May 2019 Family and domestic violence tenancy laws On April 15 tenancy laws came into effect that assist Western Australian renters affected by family and domestic violence (FDV). In case you...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
17 Jul 2020

Keeping safe in your rental property

READ
Keeping safe in your rental property The family and domestic violence tenancy laws came into effect on 15 April 2019. This publication contains information translated from the Safe Tenancy WA page...
Consumer Protection
Information
29 May 2019

Hot tips for safe tenancy - Tenants bulletin issue 6

29 April 2019 National safety alert reminder – gas heaters In case you missed it, a national safety alert was issued last month for four open-flued gas heaters that, under certain circumstances, may...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
14 Aug 2024

Family violence tenancy laws are now in effect - Tenants bulletin issue 5

15 April 2019 Family and domestic violence tenancy laws now in effect Tenancy reforms to assist Western Australian renters, affected by family and domestic violence, started on 15 April 2019. The new...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
24 Apr 2019

Application for court order (Form 12) - help for domestic violence applicants

READ
To close this window immediately press Ctrl +W. For information about how to browse incognito and/or erase your history, see www.esafety.gov.au The PDF and below information provides a guide on...
Consumer Protection
Information
30 Nov 2021

Family violence tenancy laws coming soon - Tenants bulletin issue 4

18 March 2019 Family violence tenancy laws coming soon Renters affected by family and domestic violence (FDV) will soon have new options. We're pleased to say an amendment to Western Australia's...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
14 Aug 2024

$1.5 million in unclaimed security bonds - Tenants bulletin issue 3

7 February 2019 Security bonds - did you know? A security bond is a payment made in advance by a tenant to cover any damages or outstanding bills that may arise during a tenancy. As such, bond monies...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
14 Aug 2024

Learn about PCRs: Tenants' bulletin issue 2

4 December 2018 Your property condition report is critical to your tenancy At the start and end of every tenancy your landlord or property manager will provide you with a property condition report (...
Consumer Protection
Bulletin
14 Aug 2024

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Announcements

Commissioner's Blog: Post storm consumer and tenant tips

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping After recent cyclones and storms there will be many Western Australians who have been cleaning-up and are now looking to fix property damage, such as roof or fence repairs. Although we haven’t had any reports of travelling conmen or unlicensed traders, we know the calm after the storm is often when they go door-to-door, offering cheap deals...
Consumer Protection
Media release
06 Mar 2020

Know your rights when rents rise

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Lanie Chopping Perth’s rental prices have flat-lined for almost three years, but there are strong indications the market could be resuscitated in 2020. According to REIWA, the number of rental listings fell nine per cent in the last three months of 2019 – helping to nudge down the vacancy rate to 2.4 per cent and resulting in increased competition among...
Consumer Protection
Media release
28 Feb 2020

Rental advice to weather the storm

Wild weather across Western Australia has prompted Consumer Protection to issue advice to landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities when a rental property is damaged. Landlords and tenants are urged to make contact early and maintain open communication in the aftermath of extreme weather events such as storms, cyclones and flooding. Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie...
Consumer Protection
Media release
28 Feb 2020

Warnbro landlord penalised for not lodging bonds (Christina Maria Cramphorn)

UPDATE 20/04/2021: After Consumer Protection reported on the outcome of this case on 27 February 2020, Christina Cramphorn successfully applied for the judgement to be set aside on the basis that she was not present when the case was heard by the Rockingham Magistrates Court. A re-trial was held on 25 March 2021 and Ms Cramphorn again failed to attend and Magistrate Andretich accepted that she...
Consumer Protection
Media release
27 Feb 2020

Karratha agent to pay $24,069 for late bonds and inaccurate records (Peard Real Estate Karratha)

Failing to lodge bonds on time and inaccurate record-keeping has resulted in a Karratha real estate agent being ordered to pay $24,069 in fines and costs by the Perth Magistrates Court. Peard Real Estate Karratha collected bonds from six tenants in the Karratha region between September 2017 and January 2018, but failed to lodge them within 14 days as required by the Residential Tenancies Act. The...
Consumer Protection
Media release
26 Feb 2020

Commissioner's Blog: Don’t ignore shocks and tingles

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping Have you ever experienced an electric shock or tingling sensation in your home while touching a metal object like a bathroom tap? It could be a warning sign of a dangerous electrical fault that mustn’t be ignored. Shocks and tingles could be a sign a home’s electricity system has a degraded or broken neutral connection, causing a voltage...
Consumer Protection
Media release
24 Jan 2020

Your house, My home – rethinking renting in WA

Laws that cover renting of homes in Western Australia are being fully reviewed for the first time in more than a decade and Consumer Protection wants to hear from tenants, landlords and professionals who manage rental properties. Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said a lot has changed since the last full review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and he is encouraging the...
Consumer Protection
Media release
23 Dec 2019

Commissioner's Blog: Renters have new rights to protect kids

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard It has been my position for a number of years that a small amount of damage to a wall, which can easily be repaired, is a small price to pay for ensuring the safety of children living in a rental home. Since 2001, on average, one child a year has died in Australia from toppling furniture with many more suffering serious injuries. I’m really...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Dec 2019

Office hours – December and January

Our offices will be closed from Wednesday 25 December 2019 to Wednesday 1 January 2020. Normal services will return on Thursday 2 January 2020. For urgent enquiries please visit our contact page.
Corporate
Department News
04 Dec 2019

New child safety laws now in force to prevent toppling furniture accidents

New laws supporting children’s safety have come into force for tenants who are now allowed to fix furniture to the walls of their rental home and the landlord can only object in limited circumstances. Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act aim to prevent injuries and deaths caused by furniture and electronic equipment such as TVs falling on top of young children. On average since 2001, one...
Consumer Protection
Media release
02 Dec 2019

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