What repairs does my landlord have to fix in Western Australia?
Your landlord must fix both urgent and routine repairs to keep the property in a livable and safe condition in Western Australia. They are legally required to maintain the property, provided the damage wasn't caused by you. Urgent repairs must be addressed within 24 to 48 hours.
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How it works in practice
Urgent vs Routine Repairs
In Western Australia, a landlord's legal responsibility for repairs is split into two categories: urgent and routine. Landlords are obligated to maintain the rental property in a reasonable state of repair throughout your tenancy, regardless of the amount of rent you pay.
Urgent Repairs
Urgent repairs are further divided into essential services and other urgent faults. Essential services include broken water, gas, electricity, or functioning refrigerators (if supplied). Your landlord must arrange repairs for essential services within 24 hours. For other urgent repairs that could cause property damage or safety risks, such as a broken window or severe roof leak, the landlord has 48 hours to act.
Routine Repairs
Routine repairs cover general maintenance issues that do not pose an immediate danger, such as a dripping tap or a broken cupboard door. While there is no strict timeline like with urgent repairs, landlords must address these within a reasonable timeframe after you notify them in writing. You must continue to pay your rent while waiting for any repairs to be completed.
Important exceptions
Your landlord is not legally responsible for fixing damage that was caused by you, your household members, or your guests. If you break a window or burn a carpet, you must pay for the repairs yourself.
Additionally, your landlord is not required to fix items that you brought into the rental property. Their maintenance obligations only cover the building structure, fixtures, and any appliances or chattels that were originally provided as part of the tenancy agreement.
They also cannot be penalized for delays if they have made reasonable attempts to secure a tradesperson during severe weather events or public holidays.
What you should do now
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Identify if the repair is urgent (essential services within 24 hours) or routine.
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Contact your landlord or property manager immediately by phone if the issue is an urgent emergency.
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Follow up all repair requests in writing using a formal maintenance request form or email.
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Allow your landlord a reasonable timeframe to arrange the repairs based on the severity of the issue.
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Issue a formal Breach of Agreement notice if they ignore your routine repair requests for an extended period.
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