Practical advice for house hunters

• Expert guidance on what to look for in a house or apartment and what questions to ask
• Easy-to-follow principles of good building design
• Good design to feed into development around METRONET precincts

Western Australian house hunters and renters now have an easy-to-use pocket guide to help them choose a home that is liveable and has good design elements.

The housing guide will offer expert advice on what questions to ask when purchasing or renting a house or apartment and will cover 10 principles of good design such as light and ventilation, functionality, sustainability and landscape quality. 

The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) has developed the guide as part of the State Government's Design WA initiative.

It is the first in a series that aims to help people understand the benefits of good building design and how it can affect the way they live.

The guide will be available for the first time at this weekend's Open House Perth event, which is supported by the State Government.

The proposed Design WA stage one policies, including State Planning Policy 7: Design of the Built Environment and the Apartment Design policy, are expected to be finalised in early 2018.

Work is also underway on Design WA stage two, including policies for Precinct Design, Neighbourhood Design and House Design.

To download the guide, visit http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/designwa

Comments attributed to Planning Minister Rita Saffioti:

"The home buying process can be overwhelming and people are not always getting what they expect.  We want to empower people to make better choices when purchasing or a renting a home.

"Good building design benefits us all and does not cost more if considered early.  It is often about simple things such as making a house or apartment easier to heat or cool by considering where windows are located or if insulation has been used.

"Given the swift progress of METRONET, I have asked the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage to expedite work on the Precinct Design policy, which will greatly assist with planning around METRONET stations."

Comments attributed to Perth MLA John Carey:

"Public transport infrastructure such as METRONET and cycle paths will go a long way towards making Perth a more liveable city, but we also need to pay attention to how our homes and buildings are designed.

"Good design promotes good health, and that's what all good cities need to aspire to.

"This guide will help cut through the marketing lingo and offer advice on what questions to ask such as 'what is the level of natural light in each living space and bedroom?'"

Minister's office - 6552 5500