Renting out an investment property in Western Australia comes with clear responsibilities for both landlords and tenants. Under Western Australian residential tenancy laws, responsibilities for rental property maintenance and repairs are clearly outlined, including who handles what, how repairs should be managed, and required timeframes.
Below is a simple breakdown for landlords managing an investment property:
Landlord Responsibilities
According to Consumer Protection WA, landlords must provide and maintain a rental property that meets minimum standards and remains in a reasonable state of repair throughout the tenancy. Failure to stay compliant with these obligations can result in fines, legal action and potential safety risk to tenants. Visit our blog post for more information.
Landlords are generally responsible for:
- The structural integrity of the property
- Hot water system replacement
- Oven/cooktop repairs
- Plumbing systems
- Smoke alarms (must be installed and working)
- Gutter cleaning and tree lopping
- Reticulation systems and repairs
- Exterior painting
- Roof leaks
- Fence repairs from storm damage
- Mould or mildew caused by leaks, gutters, or faulty fixtures
- Tree lopping (where applicable)
- All fixtures and supplied appliances (e.g. ovens, air conditioning units)
- Phone, NBN, TV aerial or cable connections (where provided)
- Maintaining fire breaks (where applicable)
Tenants Responsibilities
Tenants also have maintenance responsibilities to ensure the property is kept in good condition during the tenancy.
Tenants are typically responsible for:
- Reporting maintenance issues promptly to the property manager or landlord
- Replacing light globes (unless specialist equipment is required)
- Cleaning windows (unless specialist access is required)
- Taking out rubbish into supplied bins
- Regular cleaning to help prevent pest infestations
- Basic pest prevention (proper food storage, regular cleaning, use of pest treatments)
- Regular lawn care such as:
- Watering
- Weeding
- Mowing
- Edging (unless included in the tenancy agreement)
- Mould prevention, including ventilation such as opening windows and doors for airflow
- Damage caused by the tenant or their visitors
| Maintenance Item | Landlord | Tenant |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water system replacement | Yes | No |
| Oven/cooktop repair | Yes | No |
| Blocked drains (tree roots, age) | Yes | No |
| Blocked drains (tenant misuse) | No | Yes |
| Smoke alarm – battery replacement | No | Yes |
| Smoke alarm – hardwired maintenance | Yes | No |
| Replacing light globes | No | Yes |
| Cleaning windows | No | Yes |
| Taking out rubbish | No | Yes |
| Pest prevention | No | Yes |
| Gutter cleaning | Yes | No |
| Reticulation repairs (wear and tear) | Yes | No |
| Lawn and garden care | No | Yes |
| Tree lopping | Yes | No |
| Exterior painting | Yes | No |
| Interior wall damage (tenant misuse) | No | Yes |
| Roof leaks | Yes | No |
| Fence repairs (storm damage) | Yes | No |
| Mould (no ventilation fan or window) | Yes | No |
| Mould (not using fan or opening windows) | No | Yes |
| Fixtures and supplied appliances | Yes | No |
| Phone, NBN, TV aerial or cable connections | Yes | No |
| Maintaining fire breaks | Yes | No |
Need Help Managing Your Investment Property?
Understanding maintenance obligations and keeping up with repairs can be time-consuming, especially when balancing tenant needs, compliance requirements, and seasonal upkeep. Having an experienced property manager can take the pressure off and help ensure nothing is missed.
If you’re unsure about who is responsible for a repair, need advice on compliance, or want support managing your rental property in Western Australia, the team at Real Property WA can help.
