Consumer

Topics

Buying travel online and scams

From glossy brochures offering the chance to buy or even win amazing travel packages through to fake social media requests for help from friends and family, Western Australians receive their fair share of travel-related scams. The travel page covers general protections consumers have under the...
Travel
20 Feb 2014

Travel costs and insurance

Travel costs can be varied and expensive. There are a few tips you should consider before purchasing the travel. Checking terms and conditions is essential in any travel package, accomodation or insurance. Costs Published travel costs are subject to change, even if you have paid a deposit. This is...
Travel
20 Feb 2014

Magistrates court

The Magistrates Court deals with disputes between consumers and traders with claims of up to $75,000. You can opt for a less formal, more private, process without the need for lawyers if your claim is less than $10,000. For claims over $10,000 the matter is dealt with in a court (with or without...
Formal complaints
20 Feb 2014

What happens when you complain

Important notice Consumer Protection is currently experiencing a high level of demand for its conciliation services which will delay the progress of some complaints. Complaints may be queued and will be allocated in order of priority. If you haven’t done so already, please see the Consumer...
Formal complaints
20 Feb 2014

How to lodge a Consumer Protection complaint form

WATCH
In Western Australia and the Indian Ocean Territories, Consumer Protection attempts to settle property related disputes and complaints around retail goods or services purchased here, or from Australian retailers online. Priority is given to people who are at risk of harm, and issues that have the...
Formal complaints
20 Feb 2014

Consumer complaint checklist

You may find it useful to use this checklist and keep it with you when you make your complaint. You can also find out what happens when you make a complaint . The Department has produced fact sheets on the conciliation process and business tips for handling complaints . We recommend you have the...
Complaints
19 Feb 2014

Complaint letter samples

If talking it over doesn’t work, put it in writing. You may find it useful to use one of the sample letters below as a guide for writing a complaint letter. Useful complaint letter tool Visit the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website for guidance on writing a complaint...
Complaints
19 Feb 2014

Talk to the trader

Tips on how to approach an issue with a business or trader to get a mutually acceptable solution.
Complaints
19 Feb 2014

Enforcement

Information about Building and Energy's Enforcement Branch.
Enforcement
19 Feb 2014

Owner-builder application

Becoming an owner-builder To become an owner-builder, you must first obtain owner-builder approval from the Building Services Board, and then a building permit from your local government. The process and related form to become an owner-builder was amended in March 2023 to streamline determination...
Becoming an owner-builder
19 Feb 2014

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Publications

European House Borer

READ
European House Borer (EHB) is a destructive pest of untreated, seasoned (dry), coniferous wood including pine, fir and spruce. This fact sheet provides information on what to look for and how to...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
22 May 2014

Having plumbing work done?

READ
Is your plumber licensed? Only plumbers who hold appropriate licences issued by the Plumbers Licensing Board (the Board) can legally carry out regulated plumbing work (water supply, sanitary and...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
04 Dec 2023

Smoke alarm laws for existing dwellings – Fact sheet

READ
The Building Regulations 2012 (the Regulations) in Western Australia require the owner of a dwelling to have compliant smoke alarms installed: i) prior to the sale or transfer of ownership of the...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
02 Sep 2021

Rules for pools and spas

READ
Drowning is the most common cause of preventable death of children aged 0–5 years. Over the past five years, 16 toddlers have drowned in Western Australia. For every drowning death, it is estimated...
Building and Energy
Guide / handbook
20 Oct 2016

Roof coating – do you really need it?

READ
If you are planning to have your roof restored by coating or painting, this fact sheet will guide you through the most common problem areas.
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
22 May 2014

Guidelines for building complaint reports

READ
When dealing with building disputes relating to a regulated building service, Building and Energy may require the parties to a complaint to provide further details about the complaint. These further...
Building and Energy
Guidance note
23 Jan 2019

Dividing fences

The new 'Dividing fence matters' webpage provides general guidance on the Dividing Fences Act 1961 (the Act) and its interaction with local government by-laws in relation to the construction and...
Building and Energy
Brochure
04 Nov 2021

Resolving payment disputes in construction contracts

READ
Using adjudication to resolve payment disputes Every day, individuals and organisations enter into contracts for building and construction work. Sometimes disputes arise over payment. The...
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
22 Jan 2019

Building your new home – a checklist

READ
This booklet provides a guide to each stage of building or renovating your home.
Building and Energy
Brochure
16 May 2014

Building for better protection in bushfire areas

READ
This guide is provided to assist homeowners be aware of the regulated construction requirements and building standards for new homes and to assist those who wish to upgrade their existing homes for...
Building and Energy
Brochure
22 Oct 2015

Pages

Announcements

Commissioner's Blog: Safe sleep for babies

Babies can spend up to 17 hours a day sleeping, so it’s vital to ensure the place where they spend all this time resting is as safe as possible. As the range of infant sleeping products available in the Australian market continues to grow, leading medical and injury prevention experts, industry and regulators have developed a new best practice guide for the design of safe infant sleeping...
Consumer Protection
Media release
14 Jul 2022

Builder fined for non-compliant fence, patio and pool project – Oakwood Grove Pty Ltd trading as Manray Corporate Services

Home owners left with defective, incomplete and unauthorised building work No nominated supervisor or building permits for some of the work $3,000 fine for breaches of WA’s builder registration laws The Building Services Board has fined a Success building company $3,000 for carrying out unauthorised, defective and inadequately supervised work during an outdoor renovation project in Stirling. The...
Building and Energy
Media release
14 Jul 2022

Perth family shares safety warning after girl’s electric shock injuries

10-year-old received an electric shock while trying to fix a 240-volt tower fan Serious burns to both hands required skin grafts and ongoing treatment Discuss electrical safety with children and do not use damaged appliances A Perth mother and daughter are encouraging families to talk about electrical hazards after the 10-year-old received an electric shock and serious hand burns from a broken...
Building and Energy
Media release
12 Jul 2022

Alert to Perth motorists - fill up now to beat the petrol price rise

Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 13 July 2022), the average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) will increase by over 20 cents per litre (cpl) to 209.7 cpl. 7-Eleven hiking by up to 38 cpl up to 225.9 cpl; Coles Express and Ampol up to 219.9 cpl; BP up to 217...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Jul 2022

Two prospective tenants lose thousands to Perth rental scam

The two rental applicants received fake emails saying they were successful Payments to secure the property were sent to the scammers’ bank account Potential tenants are left out of pocket and without rental accommodation Two people searching for a rental have lost a total of $23,500 after scammers appeared to have hacked into a Perth western suburbs’ real estate agency’s email account. Consumer...
Consumer Protection
Media release
12 Jul 2022

Commissioner's Blog: The waiting game – your rights when parcels fail to arrive

Online shopping has revolutionised the way many of us buy goods, but it has also meant navigating additional challenges not faced by traditional in-store shoppers. Given online purchasers are required to pay for their items upfront before waiting to receive them, a common complaint we hear about is goods taking a long time to arrive, or perhaps never arriving at all. We recently raised the alarm...
Consumer Protection
Media release
11 Jul 2022

Advice for airline passengers affected by flight cancellations/delays

Affected passengers are entitled to a refund if replacement flight not acceptable Compensation can be claimed for alternative bookings in some circumstances 193 travel complaints lodged with Consumer Protection so far this year Consumer Protection is reminding WA consumers about their rights when impacted by the current wave of domestic and international flight cancellations or long delays. So...
Consumer Protection
Media release
07 Jul 2022

Ignore texts with a dodgy link offering COVID-19 test kits

Text message recipients are advised they are a close contact Link in text goes to fake order form to get a PCR test kit Scammers seek to steal personal and financial information WA mobile phone users are being urged to ignore scam texts purporting to be from a federal government agency that contain a dodgy link and an offer of free COVID-19 PCR test kits. Recently the texts have appeared to come...
Consumer Protection
Media release
05 Jul 2022

NAIDOC Week Events

Find a NAIDOC Week event in your local area NAIDOC Week is celebrated by local community events. Please visit the website for local community events in your area. Search for local NAIDOC Week events How you can get involved in NAIDOC Week 2022 Please see the list below of events on Whadjuk Boodjar. To search for more NAIDOC Week events happening in your local area please visit the NAIDOC Week...
Consumer Protection
Department News
30 Jun 2022

Reducing financial red tape for WA’s incorporated associations

UPDATE: The new regulations are now in place, having been approved by Executive Council and published in the Government Gazette on 12 August 2022. Financial reporting thresholds increased to lessen the cost of compliance Regulation changes to provide consistency between WA and national rules Changes in response to feedback from sector consultations New regulations will be put in place by the...
Consumer Protection
Media release
30 Jun 2022

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