REIWA Information Services

An agent, acting in the seller's best interests, may inform prospective buyers of competing offers without disclosing the terms, as these are considered confidential unless explicitly agreed otherwise.

It is common for agents to advise buyers to review and submit their best offer when there are multiple offers. The seller is under no obligation to negotiate with any buyer or provide an opportunity to revise offers.

It is an owner’s obligation under the Residential Tenancies Act to hand over a property in a “reasonable state of cleanliness and repair”.

If this is not done then the owner is in breach of their agreement and you should contact your property manager.

Although the term “clean” is subjective – the condition should be what a “reasonable person” would expect.

Moving into a new home is exciting, but protecting your belongings should be a priority. As a tenant, it’s important to understand that your possessions aren’t covered by your landlord's insurance. That’s where tenant’s contents insurance comes in.

Contents insurance covers damages to your personal belongings caused by unforeseen events such as fires, storms or even power outages. Without it, you could be left facing the costs of replacing your items if disaster strikes.

So, before you settle into your new home, consider getting tenant’s contents insurance to ensure your peace of mind and protect the things that matter most to you.

You can ask the property manager if there is any outstanding maintenance work planned.

Landlords often take advantage of the time between tenants to complete repairs or small improvements like fresh paint or new carpet. It’s important to know what’s planned and, more importantly, when these tasks will be completed.

Make sure to confirm if any repairs will be finished before you move in. This ensures you won't be caught off guard by any unexpected disruptions after you’ve settled into your new home.

Under the new rental reforms, pets will be allowed in most cases, but tenants must get permission from the property owner.

There is a specific form you have to fill out. You can find a copy on the Consumer Protection website.

The property owner can say no in certain circumstances, such as where strata by-laws do not allow pets. They can also object on other grounds but must seek the approval of the Commissioner for Consumer Protection.

Tenants will be responsible for any nuisance or damage caused by their pet. Damage caused by a pet is not considered fair wear and tear. For more information, click here.

Once both parties have signed the contract, you are legally bound to its terms. In Western Australia, property contracts do not include a cooling-off period. 

We recommend seeking legal advice to ensure you fully understand your obligations and any potential consequences.

RCDs: As a landlord, you are required to have two Residual Current Devices (RCDs) installed on the switchboard of your rental property before it can be leased.

Smoke Alarms: Since 1 October 2009, all residential buildings must have mains-powered smoke alarms installed when signing a new tenancy agreement.

As the property owner, you must ensure that the smoke alarms:

If a property is under offer, you can't make an official offer, but you can express interest to the agent. If the initial deal falls through, they may approach you.

However, if the original offer is subject to the sale of the buyer's own property with a 48-hour clause in the contract, and the seller receives another acceptable offer during this period, the initial buyer has 48 hours to either waive the 'subject to sale' clause or void the contract. This would enable the seller to accept another offer.