A partnership between Legal Aid WA (LAWA) and Consumer Protection has developed a new tenancy education project aimed at vulnerable communities.
Director of LAWA, Graham Hill said the partnership, which had received input from other Government Agencies and community support services, had contributed to LAWA’s highly successful Blurred Borders Project.
Dr Hill said the tenancy education toolkit contained material using visual art, plain language and storytelling as the basis to reach Aboriginal people as well as those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
He said it covered a range of tenancy issues such as property inspections, rent owing, getting things fixed, emergency repairs, property standards and escaping a tenancy for family violence reasons.
The Director said the tenancy Blurred Borders kit would greatly assist in breaking through the barriers of language and culture to provide crucial information that could be easily understood and allow vulnerable West Australians better access to justice.
“The toolkit will be an effective way for frontline service providers to empower these communities with the knowledge they need to fight for their rights and understand their responsibilities when renting, as well as the processes involved,” he said.
“Dealing with issues that arise is extremely difficult when tenants don’t have even a basic grasp of tenancy laws and may, for instance, move out of a property even if the landlord hasn’t gone through the proper eviction process.”
Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Gary Newcombe said the project would help get important tenancy information to groups that were often difficult to reach.
“By partnering with LAWA, we increase our resources and ability to reach many communities, particularly those in remote and rural areas, that may not have the proper awareness of their rights and obligations when it comes to renting,” Mr Newcombe said.
“An analysis of tenancy enquiries received by Consumer Protection shows there is a gap when it comes to the knowledge of tenancy laws among certain groups, especially in relation to ending a tenancy, maintenance issues, evictions and getting their bond back.”
Those seeking more information on the resources, or to obtain a kit, should contact the Consumer Protection or Legal Aid WA officers in their region.
