Consumer Protection

Notification of opening a trust account - Settlement agents

SETTLEMENT AND BUSINESS AGENTS Part IV Settlement Agents Act 1981

Agents should advise the Commissioner for Consumer Protection as soon as practicable or within five working days when a trust account is opened. Note that this is not required for separate interest bearing trust accounts. Lodge this form by email to audits@demirs.wa.gov.au, by fax (08) 6251 2801, or by post to Locked Bag 100, EAST PERTH WA 6892.

Notification of closed/amended trust account

SETTLEMENT AND BUSINESS AGENTS Part IV Settlement Agents Act 1981

Agents should advise the Commissioner for Consumer Protection as soon as practicable or within five working days when a trust account is closed or amended. Note that this is not required for separate interest bearing trust accounts.

Lodge this form by:

27 August

A Broome real estate agent has been fined by the State Administrative Tribunal for failing to properly supervise an employee who had made an unauthorised withdrawal from the agency’s trust account.

Read more about the agent and the fine imposed on the departmental announcement “Fine for Broome real estate agent after employee makes unauthorised withdrawal (Anthony J Hutchinson / Hutchinson Real Estate)”.

August 2018

Changes have been applied by the Federal Government from 1 July 2018, regarding the liability for the goods and services tax (GST). Purchasers of new residential premises and new residential subdivisions, where the transaction is a taxable supply, are now required to withhold the GST component of the purchase price and pay that amount to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). As a settlement agent, you may be required to arrange this on behalf of the purchaser.

7 August

Health and safety issue: mould, electrical safety & unsafe pool gate latches

7 August

Health and safety issue: mould, electrical safety & unsafe pool gate latches