STAFF REPORTER

January saw an increase in property activity across Western Australia but it was not enough to stop the financial year to date being the worst on record since the shocker year the GST was introduced.

Mike Bradford, the boss of state government land information arm Landgate, today revealed that the number of property documents lodged in January increased by 14 per cent compared to January last year.

“This improvement was buoyed by the number of strata lots created in January, which increased by almost 6 per cent when compared with January last year,” Mr Bradford said.

“However, with the exception of the anomalous year the GST was introduced, 2000-2001, the figures for this financial year to date are the lowest figures seen since 1996-1997.”

Mr Bradford said the figures pointed to a continued subdued market.

“Overall, property activity for January was down 33 per cent compared to January in the boom years of 2005-2006,” he said.