Western Australia has announced a ban on no-grounds evictions as part of new tenancy reforms aimed at improving housing security for renters amid one of the nation's most severe housing shortages and affordability crises.
New Rules for Landlords
Under the proposed changes, landlords will be required to provide a valid reason to end a tenancy. Acceptable reasons include when an owner or relative intends to move in, the property requires substantial renovation or demolition, or a tenant has repeatedly breached the agreement. Tenants may also need to vacate if the property is sold, rent is unpaid, or illegal activities occur on the premises.
The reforms will also restrict the types of information landlords, agents, or third parties can request from prospective tenants. Additionally, tenants must be provided with at least one fee-free method to pay rent.
Consultation and Implementation
The Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety will consult on the details during the drafting process. Premier Roger Cook stated that the laws aim to ensure every Western Australian has a place to call home. "Ending no-grounds terminations and replacing them with commonsense reasons for landlords makes Western Australia's rental market fairer," he said.
Commerce Minister Tony Buti emphasised the government's commitment to fairness, particularly amid rising cost-of-living pressures. "This has flow-on benefits for the community," he added.
Industry Concerns
However, the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) president Suzanne Brown expressed deep concern, warning there would be "no winners." She noted that the rental market has not fully recovered from the post-COVID exodus of investors. "Another drop in supply will see the vacancy rate fall, competition increase, and even more upward pressure on rent prices," Brown said.
Campaigner Perspective
End Unfair Evictions campaigner Jesse Noakes countered that there is no evidence from other states that ending no-grounds evictions impacts rental supply. "Rental supply in WA has fallen from more than 14,000 in 2018 to just 3,000 properties this year. The rental market can't get any worse – this can only make things better," he argued.
Political Reactions
WA Greens housing spokesman Tim Clifford called the announcement historic but insufficient, citing loopholes in similar legislation elsewhere. He noted that landlords could still use excessive rent increases to force out tenants. "We're still going to introduce our rent cap bill this week, because we do know the government will walk back from any reforms if we do not maintain this pressure," Clifford said.
