Is "source of income" a protected attribute under City of Perth bylaws?

No. City of Perth local-law summaries do not expressly list "source of income" as a protected attribute; protection normally arises under state tenancy or equal opportunity legislation.

Who do I contact to complain about a landlord refusing tenants because of welfare payments?

Start by raising the issue with the landlord or agent in writing. If unresolved, contact the state tenancy advice service and the Equal Opportunity Commission; for related local-law conduct on city land, report to the City of Perth compliance team via the official contact/report page.

Can the City impose fines for discriminatory advertising?

Only if the advertising breaches a local advertising, planning or public-space local law; monetary amounts for such offences are set in the specific local law or state legislation and are not specified on the City page cited here.

Perth Council - Source of Income Protections

Housing and Building Standards Western Australia 4 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026

Perth, Western Australia residents and landlords sometimes ask whether local bylaws or council rules restrict treating people differently because of their source of income. This guide explains how source-of-income issues intersect with City of Perth local laws, state tenancy and discrimination frameworks, who enforces rules locally, and practical steps for tenants, landlords and advocates in Perth. It focuses on municipal processes and directs readers to official enforcement and complaint contacts in Perth and relevant state agencies for tenancy or discrimination matters.

Local bylaws rarely define "source of income" as a protected category; check state legislation for tenancy and discrimination protections.

Scope and how source-of-income concerns arise

Municipal local laws are primarily about use of public space, parking, noise, health and licensing. Allegations that a landlord, agent or business refused service because of a tenants source of income are usually handled under state tenancy or anti-discrimination regimes rather than as a standalone City of Perth bylaw offence. Where a complaint involves behaviour in a public place, council compliance teams may investigate whether a local law has been breached, but specific protections for source of income are generally set at the state level.

Penalties & Enforcement

The City of Perth enforces its local laws through its compliance and by-law teams; specific monetary fines for "source of income" discrimination are not listed in City of Perth local-law summaries and are not specified on the cited page. Where conduct falls under state tenancy or equal opportunity legislation, penalties, fines and remedies are determined by those state instruments and courts or tribunals.

Enforcer: City of Perth By-law Enforcement and Compliance teams; see City contact and compliance pages for reporting processes^[1].
Inspection and investigation: by-law officers may inspect public spaces or respond to complaints about business conduct on city property; tenancy discrimination is handled by state agencies or tribunals.
Fines: not specified on the cited page for source-of-income matters under City local laws.
Appeals and reviews: appeal routes depend on the instrument issuing the notice (local law notices appealed to designated local review bodies or courts; state tribunal for tenancy or equal opportunity matters); time limits are usually prescribed by the issuing act or notice and are not specified on the cited City page.
Non-monetary orders: may include compliance notices, removal of unauthorised signage or orders to cease conduct; state tribunals can order remedies such as compensation or orders to cease discriminatory conduct.

If your issue is tenancy discrimination, start with the state tenancy and equal opportunity agencies before relying on council bylaws.

Applications & Forms

The City of Perth does not publish a specific form for "source of income" exemptions or variances on its local-laws overview; specific forms for lodging complaints about local-law breaches or to request council assistance are available on the City website or via the Contact/Report pages and are not specified on the cited page for this topic.

Common violations and typical outcomes

Refusal to rent to someone because they receive government payments - typically addressed under tenancy or anti-discrimination law, not City bylaws.
Unlawful advertising or signage that discriminates - may trigger removal orders under local advertising or planning rules.
Unpaid local law fines for related offences (eg. illegal boarding houses) - penalties set out in the specific local law or state legislation.

Keep dated evidence: ads, emails and messages are critical when lodging a discrimination or tenancy complaint.

Action steps

Document the incident: copies of ads, messages, notices and correspondence.
Contact the landlord or agent in writing requesting an explanation and keep a copy.
If the issue is a possible local-law breach on city property, report to the City of Perth compliance team via official report channels^[1].
If tenancy discrimination is suspected, contact the Western Australia state tenancy advice service or the Equal Opportunity body to lodge a formal complaint.

FAQ

Is "source of income" a protected attribute under City of Perth bylaws?: No. City of Perth local-law summaries do not expressly list "source of income" as a protected attribute; protection normally arises under state tenancy or equal opportunity legislation.
Who do I contact to complain about a landlord refusing tenants because of welfare payments?: Start by raising the issue with the landlord or agent in writing. If unresolved, contact the state tenancy advice service and the Equal Opportunity Commission; for related local-law conduct on city land, report to the City of Perth compliance team via the official contact/report page^[1].
Can the City impose fines for discriminatory advertising?: Likely only if the advertising breaches a local advertising, planning or public-space local law; monetary amounts for such offences are set in the specific local law or state legislation and are not specified on the City page cited here.

How-To

Gather evidence: save messages, advertisements, tenancy listings, emails and witness details.
Request an explanation in writing from the landlord or agent and keep copies of correspondence.
Report any public-space or council-property issues to the City of Perth compliance team using the Citys official reporting/contact channels^[1].
Contact the Western Australia tenancy advice service and the Equal Opportunity body to determine whether a formal complaint or tribunal application is appropriate.
If you receive a notice or penalty from council, note the appeal time limit on the notice and seek review within that period or get legal advice.

Key Takeaways

Source-of-income protections are usually governed by state tenancy and equal opportunity laws rather than City bylaws.
Report local-law breaches to the City of Perth compliance team and tenancy/discrimination issues to the relevant state agencies.