In Western Australia, rental laws have not simply changed. They have evolved progressively and across multiple areas at the same time. Since mid-2024, the Government has introduced staged reforms that now affect most aspects of owning and managing a rental property.

These reforms aim to make renting fairer, but they also create an environment where even careful private landlords can unintentionally breach requirements if correct processes are not followed. From updated rules around pets to changes in how often rent can be increased, the responsibilities of a landlord continue to evolve.

Most private landlords are not careless. Many are simply busy. A single late response, missing form or incorrectly issued notice can now result in a breach. The legislation places strong emphasis on strict procedural compliance and documentation, and owners are expected to be precise and consistent in how they manage their tenancies.

So, what is the practical solution in 2026?

Many landlords choose to work with a licensed real estate professional to help manage compliance and reduce risk.

The compliance environment in 2026 is detailed, fast-moving and highly procedural. Working with a real estate agency provides the benefit of not only having a registered property manager overseeing your tenancy, but also a licensed agency with a supervising Licensee responsible for compliance, staff training and keeping the office up to date with legislative and policy changes.

Role of the Licensee

A Licensee provides essential oversight, including:

• Ensuring whole-office compliance
• Supervising staff training
• Staying current with all legislative and policy changes
• Maintaining accountability across all compliance processes

Role of the Registered Property Manager

A licensed property manager ensures your tenancy is managed in accordance with WA legislation by:

• Managing bond lodgement and release correctly, including navigating the expanded use of the Commissioner for Consumer Protection for certain tenancy dispute processes
• Staying up to date with changes to WA rental laws, including rent increases, rent-bidding rules, pet requests, minor modifications and bond requirements
• Understanding statutory timelines and notice requirements, such as rent increase notice periods and response timeframes for pet and modification requests
• Following the correct process when engaging the Commissioner where approval or review is required under WA law
• Keeping accurate, detailed records to support your position if a matter proceeds to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection

With a property manager who is trained and continually updated, landlords reduce the risk of procedural errors and can rely on someone whose daily work is focused on applying these evolving obligations correctly and on time.

The Bottom Line

If you want your rental investment to remain protected in 2026, engaging a property manager who understands the legislative framework and manages compliance obligations carefully can significantly reduce risk. Laws will continue to evolve, but with the right professional support in place, those changes become manageable rather than overwhelming.