What is the Legal Eviction Process for Commercial Property in WA?

December 22, 2025    propertysettlementlawyersperthwa
What is the Legal Eviction Process for Commercial Property in WA?

Commercial property is an essential factor in supporting businesses, organisations and entrepreneurs in executing their chain of operations and profit-generating activities. Under the local council planning scheme, they are treated differently from residential property in terms of GST, stamp duty and land tax rules.

Settlement of zoning compliance, transfer of ownership, eviction, building and leasing approval with respect to office, industrial buildings and retail spaces fall under the duties of commercial property lawyers Perth.

What is Commercial Leasing?

The term commercial tenant in Perth is defined as someone who occupies non-residential premises under a lease or license and pays rent to the landlord for the right to use the property to carry out a trade, profession, service or industrial activity.

The lease contract of a commercial property depends heavily on the negotiation between the landlord and the tenant, and seeking the assistance of commercial property law firms is advised to draft the written documents with clarity.

The Grounds of Commercial Property Eviction?

A landlord can seek forfeiture or termination of the lease and recovery of possession only under a reasonable clause. Some of the reasons and clauses in this regard are:

  • Non-payment of rents
  • Unauthorised structural changes to the property
  • Negligence of maintenance
  • Breach of health regulations
  • Abandoning the premises by ceasing trade
  • Bankruptcy
  • Criminal activity,
  • Expiry of the tenant term, with the occupant failing to exercise their renewal option correctly

These are some of the legitimate grounds for filing an eviction. In some cases, the application of multiple causes is possible, and for further efficiency, a lawyer for commercial property should be consulted.

On What Legal Grounds Can an Eviction Notice Be Issued?

The commercial eviction laws WA governing the lease contracts are the Property Law Act 1969, Transfer of Land Act 1893, the Common Law and the State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004. These laws protect the interests of both the landlord and the tenant to ensure a fair trial on equal grounds.

  • The Property Law Act 1969 defines how leases and licenses will be recognised, sets default terms of leases, the right to re-entry and recovery of possession and allows landlords to file for eviction notice if the contract is breached.
  • The Transfer of Land Act enables registration of the land title if the lease duration is over 3 years. This law protects the tenant’s rights when the property is sold, and if someone claims an interest, they can lodge a caveat.

In case the tenant runs a retail business, such as a cafe or salon, and the property is located in a shopping centre, the Commercial Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreement Act 1985 is also applied. It is primarily aimed to protect small business owners from unfair lease terms with hidden costs, proper exchange of information before signing of contracts and dispute resolution.

The cases related to the Retail Shops Act are first submitted to a special court created under the State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004 that provides a faster and less formal alternative to a traditional court.

If the case is outside the jurisdiction of SAT or a question of law is raised, judgment is passed in a Western Australian Court, by adhering to the Common law, which is developed through court decisions and prior history of previous similar case outcomes, rather than following statutes or specific legislation. Since it is dependent on a series of precedents, an accurate representation of terms is necessary, which is done by a commercial property solicitor Perth.

Steps to File an Eviction Notice in WA

Before approaching property settlement lawyers Perth, landlords will issue a formal notice of breach, which must be in writing, clearly stating the nature and offering the necessary remedy to fix it. A stipulated time period is given to solve this breach, enabling the tenant to continue its business operations while looking for suitable alternatives.

  • If the issue is not resolved, the landlord serves a Notice of Termination referencing the specific clause in the lease relevant under the Commercial Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreement Act to the tenant.
  • He is also required to submit a copy to the SAT along with grounds for termination, relevant legal documents supporting the stated claims, the tenant’s rights and the consequences of not fixing the breach. If the issue is not retail-related, the notice is submitted to the Western Australian Courts.

If the eviction is successful, the landlord may pursue additional tenant liabilities of unpaid rent, the cost of repair in case of structural damage and make good obligations.

Conclusion

Navigating an eviction process on a commercial property is a delicate procedure, and one should seek the help of the best property settlement lawyers, WA to present their case in the respective court effectively. From drafting your grievance to providing customised benefits in every aspect of legal law, having a capable commercial lawyer by your side ensures a smooth processing of the eviction.

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