Toppling Furniture & Your Rental

In late 2021, the life of one West Australian family was changed forever when a child was fatally injured by falling furniture.

As an industry, and an agency, the health and safety of our community is paramount! So, we wanted to take this chance to remind you about some recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act.

These amendments allow Tenants to secure furniture to the walls of their rental home to minimise the risk of it falling on anyone.

What’s changed?

In a nutshell, the Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 has seen some changes flow on to the Residential Tenancies Act.

The change means Landlords must allow Tenants to fix or attach furniture to a wall to prevent a child or person from being injured, except in a few circumstances.

How do Tenant’s submit a request to fix furniture to a wall?

1. Tenant’s must submit a form to their Landlord or Property Manager. You can find a copy in this link.
2. The Landlord or Property Manager must approve the request or object within 14 days of receiving it. If no response is received, the tenant can go ahead and fix the furniture without approval.
3. Tenants must also make sure that the area they are fixing the furniture to will support the size and weight of the item. They must organise a contractor to help them avoid damage to plumbing and electrical fittings etc. if required.

Can I object to my Tenant fixing furniture to the wall?

There are very limited circumstances where you can make an objection. These include situations where your property is:

1. Heritage listed;
2. Known to contain asbestos;
3. In a strata complex and the bylaws prohibit fixing items to the wall.

What happens at the end of the tenancy when the furniture is removed?

If furniture has been fixed to the wall, your Tenant will have to repair the wall at the end of their Lease agreement.

What happens if I lease my property in a fully furnished state?

If you lease your property with furniture, we recommend securing anything that may pose risk. This includes things like televisions, bookcases, TV cabinets, wardrobes, tall boys etc.

Keen to know more?

At Hanson Property, we like to take the hard work out of your investment portfolio. Our Property Management team will ensure the process of having furniture secured is a smooth and is completed in accordance with legislation.

You can also check out a video about the importance of securing furniture here

Source –  Department of Commerce - Home safety for rental properties