A Mt Magnet landlord has been fined $1,000 and ordered to pay costs of $1,184.50 by the Perth Magistrates Court after being convicted of failing to lodge tenancy bonds with the Bond Administrator.
Ian Black, who is a Mt Magnet shire councillor, pleaded guilty on 29 April 2022 to seven charges of breaching the Residential Tenancies Act. The bonds were collected between January 2019 and January 2020 and relate to six properties owned by Cr Black in the Mt Magnet area.
The bonds were received on behalf of his tenants as the result of successful applications to the Department of Communities’ Bond Assistance Loan scheme.
In sentencing, Magistrate Walton took into account Cr Black’s guilty plea and noted that the tenants were not adversely affected by the offences.
Executive Director for Consumer Protection Trish Blake said there was no excuse for an experienced landlord like Cr Black not to be aware of his responsibilities under tenancy laws.
“Both private landlords and real estate agents have a clear obligation to lodge tenancy bonds with the Bond Administrator as soon as possible after receipt and certainly take no longer than two weeks,” Ms Blake said.
“The process to lodge bonds is simple and straight forward so it couldn’t be made any easier. Compliance with these laws is essential to ensure the security and safety of tenants’ funds.
“Failure to comply may result in prosecution or disciplinary action being taken, as well as the landlord or agent suffering reputational damage.”
