By Cason Ho

Copyright abc

The WA Government has shut down calls to remove no-grounds evictions, despite a new report finding the state has the second-worst protections for renters in the nation.

The performance report by Australia’s peak housing body National Shelter also found WA had made little progress with reforms to improve the rights of renters, compared to other states and territories

The report card states WA has not made any progress on removing no-grounds evictions, phasing in minimum rental housing standards, and limiting fees when tenants break leases.

WA has adopted some reforms, including limiting rent increases to one a year, banning any encouragement of rent bidding, and supporting tenants experiencing domestic or family violence.

‘Fine balance’

The report was handed down as the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) hosted a housing crisis panel in Perth on Tuesday.

The event was attended by housing and construction industry groups, advocates, and other stakeholders, including former Labor commerce minister Sue Ellery, who oversaw WA’s recent rental reforms.

WA and the Northern Territory are the only jurisdictions which have not removed, or made progress towards removing, no-grounds evictions — landlords are allowed to end a renter’s tenancy without any reason, provided they give notice.

Housing Minister John Carey indicated those reforms would remain off the table as the government seeks a “fine balance” between supporting renters and encouraging investors.

“It’s not [on the table], look, our position’s been very clear on this, we believe it has to be a balanced approach between providing greater protection for renters which we’ve already done, but also still attracting people to invest, to build new homes that contribute to the rental market,” Mr Carey said.

Mr Carey acknowledged that addressing rental affordability and security were part of solving the state’s housing crisis, but said he would not consider removing no-grounds evictions.

‘Not the right time’

In 2023, while announcing WA’s reforms, Ms Ellery said it was “not the right time” to remove no-grounds evictions as it may dissuade investors.

On Tuesday morning, Acting Premier Rita Saffioti brushed off questions about when the “right time” would be, saying the government’s focus was on housing affordability.

“Our focus really has been working with, in particular, all the community housing providers, about getting more rentals on to the market,” she said.

Make Renting Fair WA spokesperson Alice Pennycott said she does not know “what we’re waiting for” when it comes to no-grounds evictions.

“I don’t really know … it’s certainly not going to improve any time soon.”

“If things keep going the way they’re going, rents are just going to be become more and more unaffordable, renters are going to have less and less power, people are going to be pushed into even more exploitative arrangements.”

She said the current 30-day notice requirement for fixed leases for no-grounds evictions is “insufficient” for renters to find alternative arrangements — as is the 60 day requirement for periodic leases.

Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell said the state’s wealth made the lack of progress in some key areas particularly egregious.

“Being among the worst jurisdictions in the country when it comes to rental protections is devastating when we consider the wealth in WA. Poor protections are helping to create a dichotomy in regard to quality of life,” she said.

“Western Australia is failing to act on the most basic reforms. We cannot keep dragging our feet and leaving thousands of tenants exposed to housing insecurity.”

Minister slams NIMBYs

In a keynote address, Mr Carey gave a blistering review of “NIMBYs” pushing a political narrative that developers are “evil and exploitative”.

“Without actually acknowledging the fact that it’s often private investment, in infill [of] medium to high density apartments that is a critical part of our housing solution,” he said.

Mr Carey said while he was open to exploring and implementing a range of ideas, his focus was on reducing red tape and streamlining planning approvals to increase supply.

He said cost escalations and an uncertain planning environment had previously pushed WA builders out of the private residential construction market, which the state government has sought to address.