Tenants Advice Service News

Renters forced to dig even deeper into their pockets

2012-11-06T15:28:00.001+08:00

Perth rents just keep going up

Link: WAToday, November 3, 2012

Uncertainty as homeless programs near end

2012-11-06T15:25:00.001+08:00

Link: WAToday, October 24, 2012

Perth Rents Smash Major Capital Cities

2012-10-12T15:43:00.001+08:00

WA Today describes how the average asking price for Perth house rentals has increased over 15% since last September, outpacing all Australian capital cities except Darwin.

Link: WA Today, 11 October 2012

Pets In Rental or Strata Homes

2012-07-05T12:17:00.001+08:00

A REIWA view on keeping pets in rental or strata homes.

Link: REIWA Views, 25 June 2012

TAS Submission on the Proposed Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989

2012-05-24T11:26:00.000+08:00

Policy Update: Please find TAS Submission on the Department of Commerce Consultation Paper : Proposed Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989 at this link.

Barnett Rejects Plea on Pension Rent Rise

2012-04-20T13:21:00.000+08:00

Premier Colin Barnett rejects a plea from the Federal Government to prevent carbon tex related pension increases from being swallowed up by State housing rents.

Link: The West Australian, 20 April 2012

Refugees to Call Bunbury Home

2012-04-20T13:16:00.000+08:00

The Federal Government looks at settling refugees in Bunbury (WA).

Link: The West Australian, 19 April 2012

Consultation Paper on Proposed Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989

2012-04-11T13:39:00.005+08:00

Department of Commerce is seeking feedback on the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989.

Submissions should be forwarded no later than COB 17 May 2012 to The Director, Legislation and Policy, Consumer Protection Division, Department of Commerce, Locked Bag 14, Cloisters Square, Perth, WA 6850 or by email to responses@commerce.wa.gov.au noting “Residential Tenancy Regulations” in the subject line.

TAS is currently drafting a submission in response to the consultation paper and we would like to hear from you. If you have any comments and feedback on the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989 and would like TAS to raise them on your behalf, please contact Hui (Policy Officer) at 9221 9499.

Link: Feedback needed on tenancy regulations, Department of Commerce

Watchdog Eases Power Bill Pressure

2012-04-05T13:30:00.000+08:00

Western Power's bid for a $10.3 billion spending spree that would increase household electricity prices by almost $500 has been knocked back by WA's economic watchdog.

Link: The West Australian, 30 March 2012

Money Made with Fears for Pilbara Future

2012-04-04T13:27:00.000+08:00

A Port Hedland real estate agent has admitted that despite profiting from skyrocketing Pilbara house prices she feared for the long-term viability of her hometown.

Link: The West Australian, 30 March 2012

Housing Warning as Politicians Squabble

2012-04-03T13:25:00.000+08:00

Housing affordability and supply in WA is being hindered by bureaucratic red tape which could create a bottleneck of developments awaiting approval when the property market picks up, a peak industry body has warned.

Link: The West Australian,30 March 2012

Housing Costs Fuel Pilbara Fury

2012-04-02T13:23:00.003+08:00

Soaring housing costs cause a shortage of accommodation in the Pilbara.

Link: The West Australian, 30 March 2012

Evictions Increase Under 3 Strikes

2012-03-22T14:05:00.002+08:00

The number of evictions for public housing tenants has almost doubled since the Department of Housing introduced new 'three-strike' policy.

Full article: The West Australian

Publication Updates

2012-03-14T15:27:00.003+08:00

The following publications have been updated and the latest versions are now available as free downloads:

- A Guide to Renting
- Tenants & The Law in WA

Hardcopy versions of both booklets will also be made available via the Hardcopy Publications section of this website as soon as they become available.

Additionally, TAS now has a professionally produced display board that is available for temporary loan at your open day, expo or event. The 'Tenancy Tips' display features eight large format, full colour posters containing tenancy related information, and you can read more about it on the new Display Boards section of our website.

TAS Policy & Law Reform Papers

2012-02-20T07:43:00.000+08:00

The TAS website has recently been updated with a submission in response to the Department of Housing’s Discussion Paper regarding the Tenant Support Program. You can download this document from the Policy & Law Reform area, as well as browsing the full range of available Policy documents. If you're searching for older policy papers, documents written before 2011 have now been moved to the new Policy & Law Reform Archive section.

Training Calendar 2012

2012-02-17T07:42:00.002+08:00

The TAS Training Calendar for 2012 has recently been updated with new course and event information for the coming year. Head on over to the 2012 Training Calendar section of this website to see what's in store.

Season's Greetings from TAS

2011-12-21T16:23:00.001+08:00

With the end of the year just around the corner, Tenants Advice Service would like to take this opportunity to wish you a safe and happy festive season. Our office will be closed from Friday 23 December 2011 to Monday 2 January 2012 inclusive, but we look forward to serving you again in the New Year.

Annual Report 2010-2011

2011-12-05T14:21:00.001+08:00

With the TAS AGM held last week - on Tuesday 29 November 2011 - the Annual Report for the 2010-2011 reporting period is now available to view or print from the Publications Section of this website.

State Tenancy Conference 2011

2011-11-28T12:55:00.001+08:00

With the State Tenancy Conference now little over a week away, the registration deadline is almost here. Join others from across the state to discuss, learn and share information on a wide range of tenancy-related topics including:

Continuation of the Disruptive Behaviour Management Policy
Updates on the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and the proposed amendments
New structural changes at Department of Commerce (e.g. REBA no longer exists)

If you're interested in attending this years conference, your application must be received no later than this Wednesday, 30 November 2011, and full details - including a registration form and conference outline - can be found over at the State Tenancy Conference section of this website. Hope to see you there!

Housing Development for Young People

2011-08-15T11:15:00.000+08:00

This is a media statement by Minister Robyn McSweeney and Minister Peter Collier on the housing development for Young People at Risk of Homelessness (Foyer Oxford).

Minister Robyn McSweeny said "Foyer Oxford - a partnership between Anglicare WA, Foundation Housing and the Central Institute of Technology - would cost $23million to build and fit out with funding from the Department for Housing, the Federal Government and Lotterywest."

For the link to the media statement please click here.

Probe into Alleged House Sale Scam

2011-08-11T10:38:00.000+08:00

This is an article by Gabrielle Knowles on the The West Australia. The article is on a house sale scam where a amily's Ballajura home was sold without their knowledge. For the article please click here.

Warning Over Misleading Home Buyers Scheme

2011-08-10T16:21:00.000+08:00

Article by the West by Jane Hammond (9 August 2011) on the Department of Commerce's move to close down complex rent-to-buy home loan scheme which may be in breach of consumer and business laws. Click here for the article.

Land Released for Affordable Housing at Wungong Reach

2011-08-09T15:12:00.002+08:00

Please see the latest media statement by Minister of Housing, Troy Buswell on more developments on affordable housing at Wungong Reach : click here

RCDs now Mandatory in all Rental Properties

2011-08-09T09:02:00.000+08:00

Please refer to the media statement by Department of Commerce on the mandatory requirement to have Residual Current Devices in all Rental Properties: click here

$5.4mil to Build and Maintain new centre for Perth's homeless men

2011-08-05T09:45:00.000+08:00

Please refer to Minister Royn McSweeney's media station on new $5.4million funding to build and operate a new homeless men's shelter in Perth CBD. Click here.