WA Rental Bond Law Changes 2026

What Changed and When

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 introduced staged reforms to Western Australia's tenancy laws, rolling out from mid-2024 through 2026. For bond management, the changes restructure how disputes are resolved, how pets are approved, and how the release process works.

These are the reforms that directly affect how a private landlord handles a security bond.

Streamlined Bond Release

The most significant change is the new Security Bond Release Application process, replacing the requirement for every party to sign a Joint Application for Disposal.

Before: Both landlord and tenant had to sign one form agreeing on the split. Any disagreement — even over $50 of cleaning — meant filing with the Magistrates Court.

Now: Either party can initiate a release application unilaterally. The Bond Administrator notifies the other parties, who have 14 calendar days to agree, dispute, or stay silent. Silence equals automatic approval of the application. Disputes go to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection for an administrative determination — not the court.

This eliminates the hostage dynamic where a tenant (or landlord) could indefinitely block bond release by refusing to sign. It also removes the court filing fee ($86) from routine disputes, since the Commissioner process has no fee.

Commissioner Determination Powers

The Commissioner for Consumer Protection is now the primary adjudicator for bond disputes. When a bond release is contested, the Commissioner:

1. Collects written evidence from both parties (Form 1 PCR, photos, invoices, communication logs)
2. Evaluates the evidence against statutory standards, depreciation rules, and fair wear and tear principles
3. Issues a binding determination directing how the bond is split

The Commissioner's decision is final unless appealed to the Magistrates Court within 7 calendar days. For disputes under a few hundred dollars, this administrative pathway is effectively the last word.

The 31 December 2026 Legacy Form Deadline

The old Joint Application for Disposal of Security Bond forms will only be accepted until 31 December 2026. After that date, all bond releases — whether agreed or disputed — must use the new Security Bond Release Application.

If you have a tenancy ending in late 2026, you can still use the legacy form if both parties agree. But starting any new bond release after 31 December with an old form means a rejected application and a wasted 14-day window.

Pet Consent and Bond Implications

The reforms introduced a formal pet consent framework. Tenants submit a Form 25 pet request, and the landlord has 14 calendar days, starting the day after receipt, to respond. The three possible outcomes:

1. Approve — the landlord can then collect a pet bond of up to $260
2. Approve with conditions — an application to impose non-standard conditions must be made to the Commissioner within 14 days
3. Refuse — the landlord must apply to the Commissioner for approval of the refusal within that 14-day window

If the landlord does nothing — no response, no Commissioner application — the pet request is automatically approved on day 15. This means the tenant can move the pet in, and the landlord can charge the $260 pet bond after the fact, but cannot refuse.

The pet bond limit is $260 total for keeping cats or dogs.

Rent Increase Limits

While not directly a bond rule, the reform's rent increase restrictions affect bond calculations. Rent can now increase only once every 12 months (including fixed-term leases), with at least 60 days' written notice via Form 10. Since the bond cap is calculated from the weekly rent, less frequent increases mean fewer bond top-up cycles.

What Hasn't Changed

The 14-day bond lodgement deadline under Section 29 is unchanged. The four-week bond cap for properties at $1,200/week or less is unchanged. The requirement for Form 1 Property Condition Reports is unchanged. The penalties for non-compliance — $2,000 infringement or up to $20,000 at court for late lodgement — are unchanged.

The reforms streamlined the release and dispute process. They didn't soften the lodgement obligations.

For the complete reform timeline mapped against each step of the bond process — lodgement through release, with the legacy form transition and Commissioner pathway — the Rental Bonds in Western Australia guide covers the current rules as at October 2026.

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