Commissioner's Blog - Laws around car sales and repairs offered online

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll

People who sell cars on a regular basis need to hold a motor vehicle dealers' licence.  In fact, the law says that if you sell more than four cars a year you may be asked to substantiate why you do not hold a dealers licence. 

If it is purely for personal use and is not connected to running a de-facto business buying cars privately and then on-selling them privately is accepted but it may not make the vehicle seller exempt from the law, which applies to backyards as well as car yards.

Website warning – Travel Advisor Pro (TAP)

A travel accommodation website is listing properties for lease without the property owner’s permission, sparking fears that the site is run by scammers.

WA ScamNet is currently investigating the origins and purpose of Travel Advisor Pro (TAP) traveladvisorpro.net but due to early indications that it is a scam, a decision has been made to issue an early warning to protect consumers from potential monetary loss.

Here’s what we know so far…

Tenancy project, financial counsellor, cruise stories scoop awards

  • Consumer Protection Awards celebrating consumer champions
  • Awards recognise individuals and groups who work to advance consumer rights in Western Australia

A project helping keep people with disabilities in their homes and a financial counsellor working with vulnerable Aboriginal communities are among the winners of the 2024 Consumer Protection Awards.

The 20th anniversary ceremony, which celebrates contributions to consumer protection in Western Australia, was held at a presentation breakfast this morning on World Consumer Rights Day.

Funding boost for WA's tenancy reforms as they pass Parliament

  • Reforms to tenancy laws strengthen protections for renters and provide more clarity for landlords
  • More funding provided to support Commissioner determinations as part of 2024-25 State Budget
  • Frequency of rent increases limited to once every 12 months
  • Rent bidding prohibited, adverts must state fixed amount

The Cook Labor Government has committed extra funding to support streamlined dispute resolution for renters and property owners, as part of the implementation of Western Australia's reformed tenancy laws that have now passed State Parliament.

Buckle up for changes on written-off car sales

  • Car dealers will soon be required to advise buyers if the vehicles on offer had previously been written off
  • Under the new laws, dealers will face fines up to $5,000 for failing to comply  
  • New regulations follow surge in complaints from unsuspecting buyers

New regulations to protect consumers from making a purchase they may later regret will soon come into effect, with penalties coming to car dealers who fail to reveal whether they are selling written-off vehicles.

Commissioner's Blog: Stage one of WA’s rent reforms are now here

Rent bidding is now banned, tenants have stronger rights to fight back against retaliatory action by landlords and undercover officers from Consumer Protection will be checking to make sure landlords and agents are doing the right thing.

Welcome to stage one of Western Australia’s Rent Reforms, which came into effect on 16 May. The changes to the Residential Tenancies Act passed through Parliament last month and here’s what it means for renters and landlords.