- Residential land valuation licensing reforms under consideration
- Reforms streamline and modernise licensing processes
- Changes improve access to valuation services
The Cook Government has today introduced a Bill to Parliament that will allow residential property valuers to be licensed in Western Australia for the first time.
Amendments to the Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978 (WA) will improve productivity and reduce costs for industry and consumers by allowing qualified residential valuers to obtain a land valuer's licence in Western Australia. The Bill also includes updates to simplify and modernise licensing processes.
Currently, WA only licenses valuers who can assess all types of land - residential, commercial, and industrial. This has excluded many highly skilled residential valuers, including those certified by the Australian Property Institute (API), from working in the State.
Under the new legislation, the Commissioner for Consumer Protection will be able to grant licences with conditions that limit the holder to residential valuations. This will allow API-certified Residential Property Valuers or Certified Practising Valuers - Residential (CPV - Residential) to be licensed in WA.
The API, which launched the CPV - Residential certification earlier this year has welcomed the reforms.
The changes will create new employment opportunities in WA and potentially attract skilled workers from interstate and overseas.
Additional amendments to the Bill include:
- Allow the Commissioner to approve qualifications for the grant of a licence;
- Clarify licence renewal periods and ensure continuity of licences that are renewed; and
- Extend the timeframe for issuing infringement notices to align with other Commerce portfolio legislation, including the Short-term Rental Accommodation Act 2024 (WA).
As stated by Commerce Minister Tony Buti:
"These reforms recognise the professionalism and capability of residential valuers who specialise in residential properties and removes barriers that have limited their ability to work in WA.
"It's a practical change that supports industry, improves consumer access, and strengthens our workforce.
"By enabling residential valuers to be licensed, we're unlocking new employment pathways and supporting the property sector with more flexible and responsive regulation."
