WA Parliament has passed new legislation banning evictions and rent increases for six months. 

The laws aim to help keep tenants in homes and protect businesses during the COVID-19 downturn. 

The eviction ban will be backdated to March 30. 

The new laws include: 

• restriction on penalties for tenants who do not trade or reduce their trading hours;
• no interest to be charged on rent arrears;
• the introduction of an enhanced dispute resolution process; and
• a prohibition on landlords progressing proceedings that occurred after the restrictions were imposed but before these laws come into operation. 

A code of conduct, based on the recently-announced National Cabinet Code of Conduct, will provide a framework for negotiations between landlords and tenants.  

Premier Mark McGowan has called on both parties to enter negotiations “with a sense of shared destiny”. 

“Business closures will benefit no-one, so mutually-acceptable arrangements are urgently required to help save these businesses so they can bounce back quickly.”