It’s been just over one year since major rental reforms moved into Western Australia bringing stronger protections for renters and more clarity for landlords.
These reforms recognised renting as a more permanent living solution for many Western Australians providing stability, fairness and the ability to make their rental feel like a home.
Since July 2024, four major changes have reshaped the renting experience. Tenants are allowed to keep pets and make minor modifications to the home in most cases, rent increases are limited to once a year and a process called ‘Commissioner’s Determination’ means the Commissioner for Consumer Protection can decide disputes over a request to have pet or make small changes at a rental home.
If you’re managing a rental home you may have forgotten about the changes to the law.
A landlord is only allowed to refuse a pet or a small change to the home for very specific reasons. For example, a request to have a dog could be refused if it would break a strata by-law to keep one. A minor change to a property that would disturb asbestos can also be refused.
In some cases, the landlord may have to apply to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection to make a decision. This simple online process allows both the landlord and the tenant to submit their views without the stress and formality of going to court. Tenants are allowed to keep pets and make small changes to the home unless the landlord can prove, with evidence, that one of the grounds for refusal listed in the legislation applies.
These provide both tenants and landlords with valuable information and insights into the decision-making process regarding applications for both pets and minor modifications.
The big changes in July 2024 followed on from a ban on rent bidding and giving tenants stronger rights on retaliatory action by landlords.
