❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Department of Housing's policies on tenant evictions for unpaid utility bills, procedures for handling high water bills, and assistance for tenants to access hardship schemes. The department provided partial answers, requesting further notice for specific data.
AnsweredQoN 1050Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING — TENANTS — UNPAID BILLS
1050. Hon ALANNA CLOHESY to the
minister representing the Minister for Housing:
(1) Does the Department of Housing
have a policy to evict tenants for unpaid water or electricity bills?
(2) If yes to
(1), for each of unpaid electricity and water bills, how many tenants have been
evicted over the past 12 months?
(3) When there is
a possible discrepancy in a tenant's water bill or it is unusually
high, does the department check the bill before it pays the Water Corporation;
organise a check for water leaks or plumbing defects prior to paying the bill;
or challenge Water Corp over the bill and demand that Water Corp check its side
of the meter before paying the bill?
(4) Under its
tenant management policies, does the department help or enable its tenants to
access the Water Corp hardship schemes such as the water assist scheme and
other schemes?
OF HOUSING — TENANTS — UNPAID BILLS
1050. Hon ALANNA CLOHESY to the
minister representing the Minister for Housing:
(1) Does the Department of Housing
have a policy to evict tenants for unpaid water or electricity bills?
(2) If yes to
(1), for each of unpaid electricity and water bills, how many tenants have been
evicted over the past 12 months?
(3) When there is
a possible discrepancy in a tenant's water bill or it is unusually
high, does the department check the bill before it pays the Water Corporation;
organise a check for water leaks or plumbing defects prior to paying the bill;
or challenge Water Corp over the bill and demand that Water Corp check its side
of the meter before paying the bill?
(4) Under its
tenant management policies, does the department help or enable its tenants to
access the Water Corp hardship schemes such as the water assist scheme and
other schemes?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The Department of Housing advises —
(1) The
department has a policy whereby a tenant must abide by the conditions of the
tenancy agreement and the Residential Tenancies Act 1987. The terms of the
tenancy agreement outline the tenant's responsibilities for the payment
of all water consumption and electricity charges.
(2) The
department advises that it is unable to provide the information requested in
the time available and requests that the member put this part of the question
on notice.
(3) No. The
department has procedures in place whereby tenants can dispute water accounts.
The Water Corporation also advises the department of abnormally high water
accounts. The department may also become aware of high water bills via tenant
complaints, and the department will work with the tenant to establish reasons
for the high water consumption. If a leak is found, a plumber will carry out
repairs and send a leak allowance request to the Water Corporation. If the
Water Corporation agrees to reimburse the costs of the water, it will send a
revised account to the department. The department will credit the tenant's
water revenue account and advise the tenant.
(4) When
tenants have issues with arrears, the department provides referrals to
financial counselling and support agencies in their local area.
some notice of the question. The Department of Housing advises —
(1) The
department has a policy whereby a tenant must abide by the conditions of the
tenancy agreement and the Residential Tenancies Act 1987. The terms of the
tenancy agreement outline the tenant's responsibilities for the payment
of all water consumption and electricity charges.
(2) The
department advises that it is unable to provide the information requested in
the time available and requests that the member put this part of the question
on notice.
(3) No. The
department has procedures in place whereby tenants can dispute water accounts.
The Water Corporation also advises the department of abnormally high water
accounts. The department may also become aware of high water bills via tenant
complaints, and the department will work with the tenant to establish reasons
for the high water consumption. If a leak is found, a plumber will carry out
repairs and send a leak allowance request to the Water Corporation. If the
Water Corporation agrees to reimburse the costs of the water, it will send a
revised account to the department. The department will credit the tenant's
water revenue account and advise the tenant.
(4) When
tenants have issues with arrears, the department provides referrals to
financial counselling and support agencies in their local area.
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