WA Rental Reform Changes 2024–2026: What Landlords Need to Know

The biggest source of confusion for WA landlords right now isn't the rules themselves — it's knowing which rules are actually in force versus which are still government proposals. Here's the dated breakdown as of October 2026.

2024 Reforms: In Force Now

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 rolled out in stages during 2024, and these reforms are in force across WA tenancies:

• Rent increases restricted to once every 12 months across all tenancy types
• Rent bidding banned — landlords and agents can't solicit offers above the advertised rent
• Tenant right to keep pets, with a pet bond capped at $350
• Right to make minor property modifications (picture hooks, curtains, garden beds)
• Retaliation protections — landlords can't retaliate against tenants who exercise their rights

To refuse a pet or minor modification request, you must apply to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection within 14 days of receiving it.

Streamlined Bond Release (28 March 2026): In Force Now

The bond release process was restructured significantly:

• Either party can apply directly for bond release via BondsOnline
• Disputed or unacknowledged claims are referred to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection for free administrative determination
• The old joint bond release forms remain accepted through 31 December 2026 as a transition measure
• Appeals against Commissioner determinations must be lodged with the Magistrates Court within 7 days

This is a major change for landlords who relied on tenants co-signing the bond release form. Now a tenant can apply unilaterally, and if you don't respond, the Commissioner decides.

Phase Two (Announced May 2026): Not Yet Law

The government announced proposed further reforms including:

• Replacement of no-grounds terminations with specified reasonable grounds
• Standardised pre-lease disclosures
• Explicit minimum rental housing standards (codified, not just the current implied habitability duty)
• Updated repair obligations

As of October 2026, Phase Two is not law. No commencement dates have been set and the detailed legislation remains under development. Don't adjust your compliance practices based on Phase Two announcements — manage your property based on what's currently enforceable.

No-Grounds Terminations: Still Permitted

Under Section 64 of the RTA, termination of periodic tenancies without specifying grounds remains legal in WA (requiring 60 days written notice). Fixed-term tenancies can be ended at expiry with 30 days notice without grounds.

This is one area where WA differs from Victoria and the ACT, where just-cause requirements are already active. If Phase Two passes, this will change — but it hasn't yet.

What This Means for Day-to-Day Compliance

The reforms that actually affect your current operations are:

1. Price your rent increases at least 12 months apart and serve Form 10
2. If refusing a pet or minor modification request, apply to the Commissioner within 14 days
3. Understand the new bond release process — keep your Form 1 property condition reports thorough, because the Commissioner will use them to decide disputes
4. Track the Phase Two legislation announcements, but don't treat proposals as requirements

For a complete guide covering every current WA landlord obligation — safety standards, forms, repair deadlines, and reform integration — get the dated compliance guide.

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