Urgent repairs in Western Australia: what renters can do
Essential services (water, gas, electricity, hot water, sewerage, dangerous electrical faults): your landlord must arrange a repairer within 24 hours of being told.
Your rights in plain English
- Other urgent repairs (anything that could cause damage, injury or serious inconvenience): within 48 hours.
- If you can't reach them in that time, you can hire a suitably qualified repairer to do the minimum work needed. The landlord must pay back your reasonable costs.
- Keep receipts and a record of every attempt to contact them. If you're not paid back, apply to the Magistrates Court.
Put it in writing, with your rights spelled out
Our free email tool writes the message to your agent for Western Australia, quoting your rights. Keep dated photos and a record you can use at the end of your lease.
The email tool is free. The $29 Tenancy Pass adds your condition report and dated record for the whole lease, incl. GST, with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
What your email should say
- Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA), you must arrange a repairer within 24 hours for an essential service, or within 48 hours for other urgent repairs.
- If I cannot reach you, or a repairer is not arranged in that time, I am entitled to engage a suitably qualified repairer and you must reimburse my reasonable costs.
Where to get help
Consumer Protection WA (1300 30 40 54) · Magistrates Court · Circle Green Community Legal.
Source: Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA). General information only, not legal advice. Last checked October 2026. Check your state's tenancy authority for your situation.