29 November 2023
The Western Australian Government has today introduced legislation into Parliament which proposes a series of residential tenancy law reforms that will directly affect landlords, property managers and real estate agents.
Read More9 November 2023
In a media release on the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) website today, the Western Australian Government has announced reforms to the short-stay accommodation sector, to improve housing availability through incentives to property investors.
Under the reforms, the following will apply:
All short-term rental accommodation providers to be required to register properties
New $10,000 incentive for property owners to transition existing short-term rental accommodation into long-term rental homes for Western Australians
Reforms to provide consistency across the sector and clarity on what is required to operate a short-term rental accommodation property.
1 November 2023
In a media release today, the South Australian Government has announced the introduction of “landmark rental reforms” to parliament as part of its commitment to improving housing outcomes in the rental market.
Under the proposed bill to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 1995, changes to legislation would include:
introducing prescribed grounds to terminate or not renew a tenancy
extending the notice period to end a tenancy from 28 days to 60 days
allowing tenants to have pets in rental homes with reasonable conditions
protecting tenants’ information
ensuring rental properties comply with minimum housing standards
providing additional support for victims of domestic violence.
31 October 2023
In its latest issue of ‘Property Matters’, NSW Fair Trading has highlighted various updates and news within the state’s strata sector.
NSW Fair Trading provides updates on the following strata matters:
Strata and Property Services Commissioner to progress strata reforms
Share your views on emergency planning in apartment buildings
26 October 2023
The National Association of Renters' Organisations (NARO) has launched ‘The National Nine: Principles for Strengthening Renters' Rights’ – a briefing report providing expert guidance on the principles for strengthening renters’ rights in Australia.
In launching the report, a webinar event was held to give an overview of the report’s key recommendations and included a panel conversation. The topics discussed explored the challenges experienced by renters as renter advocacy groups and industry bodies seek solutions and identify priorities for a national tenancy reform agenda.
Read More12 October 2023
Western Australia (WA) Consumer Protection has reported the state’s first case involving the jailing of a former property manager for trust account fraud. After being found to have unlawfully stolen over $140,000 in trust account funds, the agent has been sentenced to serve thirteen months in prison.
It was determined that the agent had made 141 unauthorised withdrawals from client trust accounts totalling $140,744.37, between the years 2020 and 2022.
This prosecution was enabled under amendments made to the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978 in January 2020, when the penalty for trust account fraud was increased to a fine of $25,000 – or two years’ imprisonment. Previously, the penalty for this type of offence in WA was a maximum fine of $3,000.
Read More9 October 2023
The NSW Government has announced in a media release today that it will “move forward on critical reforms to strata laws this week, implementing changes to make the system fairer and more transparent”. As part of this goal, it has introduced the state’s first ‘Strata and Property Services Commissioner’ role. This has been carried out by extending John Minns’s existing role as Property Services Commissioner to also encompass strata matters.
Read More3 October 2023
Following in the footsteps of the Victorian consumer protection body Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV), NSW Fair Trading has also conducted and completed its own investigation into underquoting in the NSW (Sydney) property market. Some inspections were carried out undercover.
Read More28 September 2023
NSW agents, good news: in addition to the face-to-face classes offered by The College, we are glad to announce that we now offer an online CPD option!
Read More28 September 2023
In July this year, the Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) launched a campaign in an effort to remind tenants to check for any outstanding bond payments they may be owed. Property managers and landlords were called upon to encourage tenants to reach out to the RTA to establish whether any bond monies were being held in trust under their name.
The RTA has provided an update on their campaign efforts, announcing that over $6.2 million in forgotten bond monies has been successfully returned to more than 6,200 tenants.
Landlords and property managers are encouraged to make use of an ‘amplifier kit’ developed by the RTA to continue to spread the word and reunite tenants with money owed to them.
Read More27 September 2023
In its latest issue of ‘CBS Connect’, South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services (CBS) announces the State’s commitment to greater protection for prospective tenants.
Earlier this month, we reported on new laws surrounding the prohibition of rent bidding in South Australia, which commenced on 1 September 2023. CBS has since clarified further commitments to improving housing outcomes for tenants and prospective tenants.
Read More12 September 2023
In a media release today, Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) has highlighted the consequences faced by agencies that fail to conduct audits of their trust accounts within the required annual period. CAV uses the example of recent legal action being taken against an agency after its directors failed to audit their trust account over several years, despite receiving reminders, a warning and infringement notices from CAV.
Agencies operating within Victoria must audit their client trust accounts within three months after 30 June every financial year.
Read More
Macdonald Education Trading as The Australian Real Estate Training College | RTO 91003 | ABN 26 002 664 771 | Create your future
In the spirit of reconciliation, Macdonald Education acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
