Ongoing rental law changes

New rental laws for Queensland general tenancies, rooming accommodation and moveable dwelling tenancies are now in effect under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024, which amends the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the Act).

Passed by Queensland Parliament on 23 May 2024, some new laws commenced upon assent on 6 June 2024 and others will come into effect upon proclamation. Proclamation laws are being implemented in two parts:

Proclamation part one came into effect from 30 September 2024
Proclamation part two will commence on 1 May 2025.

Summary of rental law changes

New laws in effect from 6 June 2024

Rent and other payments

Rent bidding – rent bidding or accepting rent offers higher than the advertised price, are banned.
Maximum rent in advance – a property manager/owner cannot, at the start of a new tenancy, solicit, accept or invite a tenant to pay more rent in advance that exceeds two weeks for a periodic tenancy agreement, a rooming accommodation agreement or movable dwelling tenancy agreement and one month for a fixed tenancy agreement, even if a prospective tenant makes an offer to pay more than the amount prescribed in the legislation.
Note: throughout the course of a tenancy, a tenant may negotiate how much rent in advance can be paid.
Rent increases – are limited to 12 months and are attached to the property instead of the tenancy. Written agreements must state the date of the last rent increase.
Exemptions for rent increases – exempt property managers/owners and exempt providers/agents will be exempt from minimum period to increase rent. The Act provides definitions for an exempt property manager/owner and an exempt provider.
Evidence of last increase – The date of the last rent increase must be included in the tenancy agreement. Tenants have the right to request written proof of the last rent increase during the tenancy, and the property manager or owner must provide this information within 14 days. However, these requirements do not apply in the following cases:
- Exempt Lessors: the Act outlines who qualifies as an exempt lessor.
- For properties purchased between 6 June 2023 and 6 June 2025: the requirement to include the date of the last rent increase in the tenancy agreement and to provide evidence of a rent increase upon the tenant’s request does not apply if the new owner or property manager does not have information about the previous rent increase.
- For properties being rented for the first time: the date of the last rent increase is the date the property is first rented.
Undue hardship – a managing party may apply to Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) for permission to increase rent within 12 months due to undue hardship. The tribunal must have regard to any representation made by the tenant in relation to affordability and ability to continue to pay rent.
Fixed price – rooming accommodation must be advertised at a fixed price.

Balancing privacy and access

Smoke alarms – new grounds for entry to rooming accommodation to install, maintain or repair smoke alarms.

Rental bond processes

Commercial bond loans – the process for refunding bonds involving commercial bond loan suppliers has changed.
Bond for rooming accommodation – bonds must be lodged for each room where the owner lives on the premises and there are no more than three rooms available for rent, as well as student accommodation.
Bond disputes – if a bond dispute is dismissed or withdrawn at Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), the RTA can release the bond as per the original request.

New regulations and enforcement

Establish new regulations – three new Heads of Power (regulations) will be established to oversee the development and implementation of (1) a new portable bond scheme (2) a rental sector code of conduct and (3) applications to make modifications for safety, security or accessibility.
Greater enforcement – new offence provisions allow the RTA to take greater enforcement actions to uphold compliance with the Act.

Other changes

Ending tenancies – greater clarity on ending tenancies in the following situations: a short tenancy for moveable dwellings, when a community title scheme (that is, a body corporate for units or townhouses) is terminated and changes to terminology with regards to ending a tenancy due to student entitlement.
Goods left behind – for managing parties to contact former tenants where goods are left behind and revised process of advertising stored goods.
Domestic and family violence – amendments to terminology and expansion of confidentiality requirements.
Other – in general, some terminology and minor amendments have changed and while some penalty provisions have been added, others have been increased.

To learn more, watch our short video, visit the frequently asked questions webpage and visit the rental law changes resources webpage to view quick guides, videos, webinars and other resources.

New laws in effect from 30 September 2024

Rent and other payments

Reletting costs – are calculated on the remaining time on the tenancy or rooming agreement and whether the fixed term agreement is greater or less than three years. For agreements up to three years it's the lower amount of the specified reletting costs or the rent until a new tenant/resident moves in.
Rent payments – tenants must be offered two ways to pay rent including a way that does not incur more than usual bank costs and is reasonably available to a tenant.
Utility bills – a tenant must receive utility bills within a four-week timeframe, otherwise the tenant does not need to pay. There are also changes to how water charges are calculated and can be charged when a tenancy begins or ends during a billing period.

Rental bond processes

Maximum bond – no more than four weeks rent can be requested by a managing party. There will be provision in certain circumstances for tenants to request a refund of bonds paid over the maximum amount prior to these changes coming into effect.
Evidence for bond claims – when making a bond claim or disputing a bond, the property manager/owner must provide the tenant with supporting evidence within 14 days of lodging a claim or dispute. For bonds lodged with the RTA before 30 September 2024, a 12-month transitional period from 30 September 2024 to 30 September 2025 applies, allowing the sector to prepare for this change. Bonds lodged after 30 September 2024 requires supporting evidence to be provided when the property manager/owner claims or disputes the bond.

New regulations and enforcement

Information sharing – the RTA has the ability to share information with other government agencies and departments to drive greater compliance and enforcement outcomes for the sector.
Providing false and misleading information – it is an offence for anyone involved in a tenancy to provide false or misleading information to the RTA.

To learn more, watch our short video, visit the frequently asked questions webpage and visit the rental law changes resources webpage to view quick guides, videos, webinars and other resources.

Upcoming changes in effect from 1 May 2025

Rent and other payments

Disclosing benefits – any financial benefits received by managing parties regarding rent payments must be disclosed.

Balancing privacy and access

Entry notice period – the minimum entry notice period has increased from 24 hours to 48 hours.
Entry frequency – new limits apply to the frequency of entry after a notice to end the tenancy has been issued.
Protecting privacy – new limits apply to the personal information that can be requested and collected by managing parties.

Other changes

Rental application process – a new standardised rental application form will be created and must be used when a tenant is applying for a rental property. Managing parties will need to provide prospective tenants with an option to lodge this form in ways other than using third-party platforms. There are also new guidelines on what information managing parties may request from prospective tenants during the rental application process.
Request for fixtures and structural changes – revised process for a tenant to request fixtures and structural changes (in writing) to the managing party who must respond within 28 days.

Heads of Power – commencing on dates to be advised

New regulations commence – three new Heads of Power (regulations) commence for

the new portable bond scheme
a rental sector code of conduct
applications to make modifications for safety, security or accessibility.

More information will be available once regulations have been developed.

To learn more visit the frequently asked questions and rental law changes resources webpages.

Residential Tenancies Authority

Forms & resources

Summary of rental law changes

New laws in effect from 6 June 2024

Rent and other payments

Balancing privacy and access

Rental bond processes

New regulations and enforcement

Other changes

New laws in effect from 30 September 2024

Rent and other payments

Rental bond processes

New regulations and enforcement

Upcoming changes in effect from 1 May 2025

Rent and other payments

Balancing privacy and access

Other changes

Heads of Power – commencing on dates to be advised

Rental law changes: FAQs

Rental law changes

Residential Tenancies Authority

Forms & resources

Ongoing rental law changes

Summary of rental law changes

New laws in effect from 6 June 2024

Rent and other payments

Balancing privacy and access

Rental bond processes

New regulations and enforcement

Other changes

New laws in effect from 30 September 2024

Rent and other payments

Rental bond processes

New regulations and enforcement

Upcoming changes in effect from 1 May 2025

Rent and other payments

Balancing privacy and access

Other changes

Heads of Power – commencing on dates to be advised

Rental law changes: FAQs

6 June 2024 Rental law changes

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Rental law changes