Rental legislation changes

From 1 July 2023, Queensland rental laws limited the frequency of rent increases to once a year for all tenancies.

From 6 June 2024, the annual rent increase frequency limit applies to the property, rather than the tenancy.

From 6 June 2024, all forms of rent bidding are banned.  Rental property owners and managers must not solicit, invite or accept offers of:

• rent above the advertised amount
• more rent in advance, than
  • 2 weeks rent for periodic agreements and agreements for moveable dwelling premises
  • 1 months’ rent for other tenancy agreements.

From 30 September 2024:

• renters must be offered a fee-free option to pay rent that can be easily accessed
• rental property owners and managers must provide renters with utility bills that the renter is responsible for paying under the tenancy agreement within 4 weeks from the rental property owner receiving the bill from the relevant authority. The renter is not required to pay the utility bill if it is not provided within the required timeframe
• reletting costs are limited based on the amount of time left on a lease.

From 1 May 2025:

• renters must be offered a fee-free option to submit a rental application
• rental property owners and property managers are required to declare any financial benefits they receive from a particular rent payment method.

Framework to install simple safety, security or accessibility modifications

A framework is being developed in consultation with the residential rental sector to help parties agree on installing simple modifications that are necessary for a renter’s safety, security or accessibility, that will be prescribed by Regulation.

Changes that aren’t necessary for safety, security or accessibility

From 1 May 2025, the process for making and responding to requests to attach a fixture or make a structural change requires:

• renters to make requests on an approved form
• rental property owners to provide their decision to the renter in writing within 28 days unless the parties agree to a longer timeframe.

If the owner agrees to the request, they can include conditions, such as that the change must be removed at the end of the tenancy.

If parties can’t agree, they can access the Residential Tenancies Authority free dispute resolution service to help them resolve the dispute.

If this is unsuccessful, renters can apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for an order about making a change.

Changes to a common area

From 1 May 2025, if a renter requests a change to common property, the property owner is required to tell the renter their decision within 28 days.

If the owner approves the request, the decision will then be subject to body corporate approval. The owner must give the request to the body corporate within 28 days of receiving it from the renter.

If approved, the renter is required to comply with any conditions of the body corporate and the owners’ approval when making the change.

Extending entry notice periods

From 1 May 2025:

• tenants must receive 48 hours notice for entries to the property, other than general inspections, safety checks and emergencies
• residents must receive 48 hours notice for entries to their room, except for entry for cleaning, which remains 24 hours.

Limiting entry at the end of a tenancy

From 1 May 2025, rental property owners and managers are limited to no more than 2 entries every 7 days after a notice to end the tenancy has been given by either the renter or owner.

This limit applies unless entry is required:

• to meet safety obligations
• for emergencies
• a renter agrees to more frequent entry.

Applying for a rental

From 1 May 2025, rental property owners and property managers are required to use an approved rental application form that standardises the information that can be collected from applicants.

Rental property owners and property managers are only able to request up to 2 supporting documents from each of these categories:

• identity
• financial ability to pay rent
• suitability for the tenancy.

It is also an offence for rental property owners and property managers to request certain information, including legal action taken by prospective renters and their rental bond history.

Applicants must be given at least 2 ways of submitting their application form and at least one of the ways must not be using a third-party platform or require payment.

Protecting identity documents

From 1 May 2025, rental applicants have the option to provide original identity documents to a rental property owner or manager to access or sight with a copy retained only with the applicant’s consent.

Secure storage and disposal of renters’ personal information

From 1 May 2025, rental property owners and managers must only collect or access personal information about renters (including photographs of personal belongings) to:

• assess their suitability for the property during the rental application process
  or
• manage the property once a tenancy has commenced.

Rental property owners and managers are required to securely store and destroy the information in a secure way within:

• 3 months for unsuccessful rental applicants, unless the applicant agrees to a longer period
  or
• 7 years after the end of a tenancy agreement.

Evidence for bond claims

From 30 September 2024, rental property owners are required to give renters information to support their claim against the rental bond within 14 days after making the claim, unless they are unable to contact the renter after making reasonable efforts.

This information may be receipts, quotes to repair damage or records of unpaid rent. Breaching this requirement is an offence.

Maximum bond amounts

From 30 September 2024, the maximum bond amount that can be charged is 4 weeks' rent for all rental premises other than moveable dwellings (e.g. caravans).

If a bond isn’t enough to cover costs at the end of a tenancy, rental property owners can still use existing mechanisms to recover funds by applying to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) for compensation.

Bond refunds involving commercial bond products

If a renter has taken out a loan from a commercial or third-party provider to pay their bond, from 6 June 2024, the RTA will refund the bond directly to the renter, except if the bond loan is from the Department of Housing and Public Works.

Bond release if case dismissed without a QCAT order

From 6 June 2024, the RTA can refund a bond in the circumstance that QCAT dismisses an application for an order to direct the RTA to refund the bond, without making an order.

Bonds for rooming accommodation

From 6 June 2024, property owners who take rental bonds for rooming accommodation where 3 or fewer rooms are available to rent and the owner lives on the premises, must lodge the bonds with the RTA.

From 20 October 2021, renters experiencing domestic and family violence:

• can leave immediately (after giving 7 days notice) and access any bond contribution they made
• are not liable for property damage caused by domestic and family violence
• are not liable for costs relating to reletting the premises
• any remaining co-renters can be asked to top-up the bond by the property owner or manager
• can change the locks to the property without requiring the owner’s consent to ensure their safety
• must provide documentation to support their claim and property owners, managers and their employees must not disclose this information (except where permitted) and may be subject to penalties if they do so.

From 6 June 2024:

• a co-renter may apply to QCAT for an order to be recognised as the sole renter if another person in their household – with whom they have an intimate, family or informal care relationship – has used domestic and family violence
• rental property owners and managers must not disclose any personal information about vacating renters who are experiencing domestic and family violence, including any evidence that supports a notice ending the tenancy.

From 1 October 2022:

• rental property owners must have a reason to end a tenancy
• new grounds for property owners to end tenancies, including the end of a fixed-term agreement, need to undertake significant repair or renovation, change of use or sale or preparation for sale of the rental property requires vacant possession
• new grounds for renters to end tenancies, including the property is not in good repair, or does not comply with the Minimum Housing Standards.

Both renters and property owners must provide appropriate notice for the ground (reason) they are using to end the agreement.

Property owners can apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) for an order to terminate the tenancy for significant or serious breach of the lease by a tenant.

Renters can apply to QCAT for an order to set a notice to leave aside if they believe it has been issued in retaliation for them enforcing their rights.

Ending a short tenancy

From 6 June 2024, there is a formal process for ending short tenancies in moveable dwellings that requires property owners or managers to issue a Notice to Leave with a minimum of 2 day’s notice, and renters to issue a Notice of Intention to Leave with a minimum of 1 days' notice.

The prescribed Minimum Housing Standards require:

• the premises to be weatherproof and structurally sound
• fixtures and fittings to be in good repair and not likely to cause injury to a person
• locks on windows and doors
• the premises to be free of vermin, damp and mould
• privacy coverings
• adequate plumbing and drainage
• functioning kitchen and laundry facilities (where supplied).

Minimum Housing Standards apply to all tenancies from 1 September 2024.

Visit the RTA website for more information about Minimum Housing Standards.

From 1 October 2022, repair and maintenance obligations commenced to support the Minimum Housing Standards. Tenants (residential tenancies) have 7 days to complete and return the entry condition report, and tenants and property managers can authorise emergency repairs up to the equivalent of 4 weeks rent.

From 1 October 2022, changes to the process for renters to have a pet include:

• a renter can seek the property owner’s permission to keep a pet, and property owners can only refuse a request on identified reasonable grounds, such as keeping the pet would breach laws or by-laws
• the property owner must respond to a request for a pet in writing within 14 days, or consent is implied
• the property owner’s consent may be subject to reasonable conditions such as the pet has to be kept outside. A rent increase or a pet bond are not reasonable conditions.

Most rental law changes also apply to rooming accommodation agreements.

From 6 June 2024, changes specific to these agreements include:

• increased penalties apply if rooming accommodation agreements are not in writing or do not clearly outline the rent allocated to accommodation, food services, personal care, or other services
• providers and property owners can enter rooming accommodation to install, maintain or replace a smoke alarm.