“No Winners in No-Grounds Reform”: why WA’s rental changes are under pressure

The WA Government’s move to remove “no-grounds” terminations from residential tenancy laws is continuing to draw strong debate, with REIWA warning the change could create more problems than it solves.

Under the proposed reforms, landlords would no longer be able to end a tenancy without providing a valid reason. Instead, specific grounds would be required, such as selling the property, significant renovations, or breaches of the lease.

REIWA has raised concerns that while the intention is to improve tenant security, the outcome could be more complex. Their view is that removing flexibility from the system may discourage investment in rental properties at a time when supply is already tight across Western Australia.

According to industry feedback, WA’s rental market has not fully recovered from recent investor withdrawals, and vacancy rates remain low. The concern is that further regulatory pressure could reduce rental supply even more, which may ultimately place upward pressure on rents and make it harder for tenants to secure housing.

On the other side of the debate, tenant advocates argue the reform is an important step toward improving stability and fairness, ensuring renters have clearer protections and are not asked to leave without reason.

The State Government has indicated the changes are part of a broader effort to modernise tenancy laws and improve housing security. However, REIWA maintains that balance is key, and that any reform needs to carefully consider both tenant protection and long-term rental supply.

As the review continues, the focus now shifts to how legislation can be shaped in a way that avoids unintended consequences for both landlords and tenants in an already pressured market.