Ending an agreement early (breaking a lease)

Changes to Queensland rental laws came into effect from 6 June 2024. Further changes commenced on 30 September 2024. Learn more.

Minimum housing standards came into effect for new tenancies (including renewed tenancy agreements) from 1 September 2023 and for all remaining tenancies from 1 September 2024.

If a tenant or property manager/owner ends a fixed term agreement before the end date they are breaking the agreement. This is also known as breaking the lease.

A tenancy agreement is legally binding and can only be ended for certain reasons. If either the property manager/owner or the tenant breaks the agreement, compensation will probably need to be paid.

If the tenant or property manager/owner is experiencing excessive hardship (e.g. serious financial or health issues) they may make an urgent application to QCAT for an order terminating the agreement. However, QCAT may order compensation to be paid even if the agreement is terminated.

Compensation

Money may be owed as a result of breaking the lease. This is considered compensation.

Examples:

If the tenant breaks the lease, they may have to pay reletting costs.
If the property manager/owner breaks the lease, they may have to pay for the tenant’s moving costs.

Any compensation, or payment options for the amount, should be discussed between the tenant and the property manager/owner (this could include how the bond is to be paid out).

The property manager/owner must mitigate any loss associated with breaking the lease.

Residential tenancy agreements entered into before 30 September 2024, that include a term requiring tenants/residents to pay reasonable costs for reletting the premises and were compliant prior to 30 September 2024 rental law changes commencing, will be considered compliant under the Act and will still apply at the agreement end date.

Scenarios

Tenant – 'I want to break my lease.'

Always inform the property manager/owner in writing of your intention to leave.
You may be asked to pay reletting costs based on how much of the lease has expired.

Options

You and the property manager/owner mutually agree in writing to end the agreement early on a specific date.
Give the property manager/owner a Notice of intention to leave (Form 13) and leave the property (you will probably need to pay compensation).
Get your property manager/owner’s approval to transfer your interest in the property. If you have paid a bond you will need to fill out a Change of bond contributors (Form 6).
Apply to QCAT to end the agreement due to excessive hardship (if you have evidence to support the application).

Property manager/owner – 'The tenant wants to break the lease.'

The tenant may end the tenancy agreement early; however, they may have to pay reletting costs.
You are legally required to minimise costs associated with the tenant breaking the lease. You should start arrangements for reletting the property as soon as practical.

Options

You and tenant mutually agree in writing to end the agreement early on a specific date.
Tenant provides you with a Notice of intention to leave (Form 13) and you may agree on reletting costs.
Approve the transfer of the tenant’s interest in the property. If they have paid a bond they will need to fill out a Change of bond contributors (Form 6).
The tenant may decide to apply to QCAT to end the agreement due to excessive hardship (if they have evidence to support the application).

Property manager/owner – 'I want to break the lease.'

Without an order from QCAT ending the tenancy, the tenant does not have to move out.
If you do not have a QCAT order but the tenant agrees to move out early you may negotiate with the tenant over a compensation payment (e.g. moving costs).

Options

You and the tenant mutually agree in writing to end the agreement early on a specific date.
Apply to QCAT to end the agreement due to excessive hardship (if you have evidence to support the application).

Tenant – 'The property manager/owner wants to break the lease.'

Without an order from QCAT ending the tenancy, you do not have to move out.
If the property manager/owner does not have a QCAT order, but you agree to move out early, you may negotiate a compensation payment (e.g. moving costs).

Options

You and property manager/owner agree in writing to end the agreement early on a specific date.
The property manager/owner applies to QCAT to end the agreement due to excessive hardship (if they have evidence to support the application).

Student accommodation – 'No longer a student and ending the agreement early.'

There are special rules if you live in a premises mostly used as student accommodation, where your right to live there depends on being a student. If you are in this type of accommodation:

you may be asked to move out with one months notice (even if that date will be before the end date written on your lease agreement), or
you can choose to give one months notice that you will be moving out because you are no longer a student.

If you find yourself in this situation:

phone us to double-check if this rule might apply to your type of accommodation
talk with your property manager/owner about your circumstances to see what you can negotiate.

In some circumstances, your property manager/owner may request a copy of your enrolment status, or end of study documentation. Please check with your university, college or school.

Note: if you are renting student accommodation and stop being a student, a property manager/owner may issue a Notice terminating agreement if entitlement to student accommodation ends.

Residential Tenancies Authority

Ending a tenancy

Ending a tenancy

Ending an agreement early (breaking a lease)