ATTENTION WA RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS
The long-awaited Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2011 is about to have its second reading in the Legislative Assembly.
For details look up the Parliament website, current Bills, under "R": http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/web/newwebparl.nsf/iframewebpages/Bills+-+Current.
Key features of the Bill include:
More details on fines here: http://www.po.asn.au/files/Fines-under-the-Residential-Tenancies-Amendment-Bill-2011.pdf
More details on the overall legislation here: http://smallbrook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110524-POAWA-Press-Release1.pdf
A few more points of concern:
My request: WA landlords please write to your local MP this week expressing your objections to the legislation. At the moment they think you dont care.
Burbs
The long-awaited Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2011 is about to have its second reading in the Legislative Assembly.
For details look up the Parliament website, current Bills, under "R": http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/web/newwebparl.nsf/iframewebpages/Bills+-+Current.
Key features of the Bill include:
- 30 new fines for owners, 2 new fines for owners and tenants, no new fines for tenants.
- All fines increased from $1000 to between $5000 and $20,000
- Owners may be forced to pay a bond for maintenance.
- Owners lose the right to alter the property without tenant's consent
- Tenants gain enhanced occupation rights
- Magistrates have enhanced powers to change and backdate rents.
More details on fines here: http://www.po.asn.au/files/Fines-under-the-Residential-Tenancies-Amendment-Bill-2011.pdf
More details on the overall legislation here: http://smallbrook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110524-POAWA-Press-Release1.pdf
A few more points of concern:
- Databases emasculated with defaulting tenants getting a free home run into their next rental and then having their record wiped clean after 3 years.
- Tenants notice period for no-reason termination increased from 60 to 120 days
- Many more forms for landlords to comply with
- New set of regulations for handling abandoned documents, with fines if you dont comply.
- Education campaign planned by Department of Commerce to educate tenants of their rights and their ability to take legal action against owners
- New group of prosecution officers employed to enforce the regulations against owners.
- I have contacted all mainstream media outlets in WA and they wont run the story - the best I have had is page 13 of last week's Perth Voice
- I have met with Department of Commerce and they are not interested in any changes, stating the legislation is to protect tenants not landlords.
- I have contacted many MPs on both sides of the house and there is virtually no interest
- I have contacted hundreds of owners and only a handful have responded with any action
My request: WA landlords please write to your local MP this week expressing your objections to the legislation. At the moment they think you dont care.
Burbs