Support Queensland renters

Need help with renting?

Find out about products and services available or call the Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753 if you're at risk of homelessness.

Snapshot

  • $160 million Renters Relief Package to tackle cost-of-living pressures
  • Consultation to introduce a Rental Sector Code of Conduct
  • Ban on all forms of rent bidding
  • Portable bond scheme to be established to cut the up-front cost of moving house

As Queensland changes, so too does our housing system. More people are renting – and for longer than ever before.

  • October 2021
    Rental reform that puts people first

  • April–May 2023
    Consultation on Stage 2 rental law reforms

  • July 2023
    Rent increases limited to once a year

  • July–August 2023
    Consultation to ensure annual rent increase limit is effective

  • August 2023
    Agreement by National Cabinet to strengthen renters’ rights across Australia

  • May 2024
    Legislative changes to strengthen renters' rights

Renters deserve a safe and secure place to call home and make their own. In a tight rental market, it’s more important than ever to support renters to find a rental home and afford to keep it.

Today, Queenslanders who’ve never needed help with renting are reaching out for assistance or moving too far from their jobs, schools and families.

The Queensland Government is supporting renters with legislative reforms to improve the experience of renting, as well as products and services to help renters who are struggling.

We have built a team of frontline staff to provide practical support, and provided around $85 million to help 78,000 Queenslanders with private market assistance products and services including bond loans and rental grants, RentConnect services and rental security subsidy payments.

We’ve overhauled rental laws to protect renters’ rights and have banned all forms of rent bidding. Now we’ll take that further with consultation on a new Rental Sector Code of Conduct, a framework for parties to agree on installing modifications and a portable bond scheme to reduce moving costs when changing tenancies.

Additionally, we’re implementing a boosted Renters Relief Package to help Queenslanders find, get and keep a secure home in the private rental market.

See our rental track record in this timeline.

What we're doing

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Strengthening renters’ rights

The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 received Assent on 6 June 2024. It changes Queensland’s rental laws to strengthen renters’ rights and stabilise rents.

Changes to the law will come into effect in stages. We have prioritised reforms that respond to current housing market conditions, including applying the 12-month limit on rent increases to the rental property instead of the tenancy and banning all forms of rent bidding. These commenced on 6 June 2024.

Reforms to help ease cost-of-living pressures for renters will commence on 30 September 2024, including:

  • limiting the maximum amount that can be requested for a rental bond to 4 weeks’ rent
  • requiring property owners and property managers to provide renters with at least 2 ways to pay rent, including at least 1 fee-free method. If one of the payment methods does have a charge, renters must be given written notice about this cost
  • requiring property owners and property managers to promptly pass on utility bills that the renter is responsible for paying under a tenancy agreement to renters for payment
  • requiring that claims against rental bonds be substantiated
  • limiting re-letting costs based on the time remaining on a fixed-term lease.

Other reforms will commence on 1 May 2025 to give the sector time to prepare for implementation, including:

  • protecting renters’ privacy by requiring 48 hours’ notice for entries other than general inspections, safety checks and in emergencies
  • developing a prescribed form for rental applications and requiring that personal information be managed securely
  • requiring property owners and property managers to disclose any financial benefits they receive from any rent payment methods they offer
  • giving renters a choice about how to apply for a rental property
  • clarifying the process for renters and property owners to agree to attaching fixtures and making structural personalisation changes to a rental property.

Read more about rental law reforms.

Strengthening consumer protections in Queensland residential parks

On 6 June 2024, the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Amendment Act 2024 received assent. These amendments improve consumer protections in residential parks and ensure it’s still viable for investors and operators to provide this housing option.

The reforms now in effect include:

  • site rent increases limited to 3.5% or CPI (whichever is higher)
  • prohibition of market rent reviews
  • buyback and site rent reduction scheme for unsold homes
  • improved protections for homeowners facing site agreement termination.

Reforms that give homeowners multiple payment options commence on 6 December 2024 for new homeowners and 6 December 2025 for existing homeowners.

Other reforms will commence on dates established by proclamation after consultation with key stakeholders on new forms and regulations.

Expanded eligibility for our private rental products

As part of the Renters Relief Package, we have expanded eligibility for our private rental products, including Bond Loans and Rental Grants to help customers find and apply for a place to rent, move into a rental, help to pay their rent if they’re having difficulties.

We can provide help to eligible people to pay bond and rent, cover moving costs and help customers to afford household items.

Find out more and check your eligibility.

What's to come

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Modernising the housing legislative framework

We will continue to modernise the housing legislative framework to improve consumer protections in the rental market, residential parks, retirement villages and residential services, while ensuring that it’s still viable for investors and operators to provide these housing options.

Following extensive engagement with renters, rental property owners and managers, peak and advocacy groups, and the broader sector, the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 received assent in June 2024 to further strengthen the rights of Queensland renters.

Also in June 2024, the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Amendment Act 2024 received assent. It will improve consumer protections in residential parks and ensure viability for investors and operators to provide this housing option.

A Renters Relief Package

We will deliver a comprehensive $160 million Renters Relief Package to help tackle the cost of living with more funding, expanded eligibility and new ways to help renters into a home. The package will give more households immediate cost-of-living support while we build new homes, including help to pay bonds and rent.

We are also doubling our specialist customer service team at Housing Service Centres around Queensland, with more than 40 new RentConnect officers to assist renters at every stage of their housing journey.

We’ve expanded eligibility to deliver more support for more Queenslanders, including:

  • bond loan – interest and fee-free bond loan for renters
  • bridging bond loan – interest-free and fee-free loan to cover the upfront cost of a new bond, while waiting for the release of a previous bond
  • bond loans plus – a loan to cover both the rental bond and 2 weeks rent
  • rental grants – a one-off grant of 2 weeks rent to support people in crisis
  • rental security subsidy – a payment that can help people stay in their home.
Portable bonds

Pressure in the rental market means a lot of people are having to move around more often to find a home they can afford. We are reducing the costs of moving by introducing legislation to establish a portable bond scheme that allows renters to transfer their bond when relocating from one rental property to another.

Consultation on a Rental Sector Code of Conduct

We must do more to strengthen the rules and clarify the expectations of all parties in the rental sector. The government has consulted on a Rental Sector Code of Conduct to strengthen these rules and protect all parties.