News – Tenants Queensland

Overview of the 2024 Tenancy Law Changes – What you need to know

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Recent changes to tenancy law were passed by Queensland Parliament on 23 May 2024 and will impact your tenancy or rooming agreement under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (‘the Act’). Not all changes will commence at the same time. Some of the changes commenced on Assent (6 June 2024), while other changes will start on Proclamation (date yet to be announced).

Here is a quick snapshot of the key changes. This text below applies to general tenancies and rooming accommodation.

Rent Bidding
Rent Increases
New Rule of Entry – Rooming Accommodation
Bonds – Rooming Accommodation and Boarder/Lodgers
New Grounds for Ending Tenancies
Three New Heads of Power
Changes Commencing on Proclamation

With an election this year, in the lead up to the Budget we asked all political parties represented and the Independent in Parliament 3 questions

Q1. Will you continue to support the Queensland Statewide Advice and Referral Service (QSTARS) to provide free tenancy advice and support, at least for the current term of contracts (to June 2028) without any cuts to the program?

Q2. Will you continue to support the $160 million renters’ relief program funded over the coming five years to deliver bond loans and rental support to a broad range of renters in the state?

Q3. Are there additional programs of support for renters that you wish to achieve?

We will keep this page updated with their replies.

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Tenants Queensland congratulates the Miles Government and welcomes the passage of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 into law.

Tenants Queensland CEO, Ms Penny Carr, said, “I have just come out of Parliament House and I have watched the passage of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024. It is a good day for renters, there are many good reforms in the package that will improve the situation for people living in rented homes across Queensland.

There are significant improvements for Queensland renters in the package of reforms just passed and those which were made into law in October 2021.

Tenants Queensland (TQ) welcomes the Miles Government’s package of reforms that will improve the experiences of renters, with the introduction of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

TQ CEO, Ms Penny Carr, said, “banning rent bidding, requiring a fee free way of paying rent, limiting what can be asked when signing up applying for a tenancy and controlling how and for how long information can be kept, will very much improve the experiences of renters across the state. We welcome these changes”.

Requiring evidence when the landlord wants to claim against the bond, the portable bond scheme and a rental code of conduct are changes also strongly supported by TQ.

Despite welcoming the package TQ CEO, Ms Penny Carr, stated that there is more to be done. “The package is a good start but more needs to be done to support struggling renters”.

Tenants Queensland and QCOSS have jointly welcomed the package of tenancy reforms announced today by Premier Steven Miles as a promising first step towards improving the lives of Queenslanders living with rental insecurity.

The package is a positive sign that the Miles Government has listened to the pleas of Queensland’s renters and that it will continue to take seriously the plight of those burdened with insecure tenancies amid a cost-of-living crisis.

Tenants Queensland CEO Penny Carr says:
“Following three years of campaigning by Make Renting Fair in Queensland supporters, we particularly applaud the introduction of the following measures that will make a real difference in the lives of Queensland renters:

In Queensland minimum housing standards will come into effect for new rental agreements from 1 September 2023.

These standards apply to general tenancy, moveable dwelling and rooming accommodation agreements. Minimum housing standards aim to ensure rental properties are safe, secure and functional and provide clarity around the maintenance obligations for rental properties. Tenants Queensland have developed the following fact sheet that provides information on the Minimum Housing standards.

Click here for the Minimum Standards Factsheet

PM announces National rental reforms

The PM just announced outcomes from the National Cabinet discussion about rental reforms. We think more needs to be done to limit the amount rent can rise. This is the summary of their proposals:

“A Better Deal for Renters

– Develop a nationally consistent policy to implement a requirement for genuine reasonable grounds for eviction, having consideration to the current actions of some jurisdiction.

Tenants Queensland (TQ) receives funding of $44.4 million over five years to continue the QSTARS program

CEO, Penny Carr says, “We are delighted and honoured to continue our important work supporting renting households across Queensland.

“Right now, is a trying time for many households and it makes a difference to them knowing there is an independent advisory service to provide professional advice and support, specifically targeted to their needs as renters.

“We thank the Queensland Government for their continued support for the Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service and Tenants Queensland.”

$44 million for tenant advice service – Ministerial Media Statements

Statement on the Worsening Rental Crisis

Tenants Queensland, along with 80 other organisations are calling for national rent reforms, including fair limits on rent increase.

Read our joint submission to the Senate’s inquiry into the Worsening Rental Crisis.

The committee would like to hear from people about their experiences of the rental situation in Australia. However, please note that the committee cannot advise on, advocate for, or take action on individual matters.

Submissions close 1 September 2023

Click here for further information

More effective changes to limit the frequency of rent increases?

The Queensland Government is consulting about changes to the frequency of rent increases to ensure recent changes are effective.

On July 1, the government limited the frequency of rent increases to once per year. However, the last few months have seen the emergence of rental management practices which appear to undermine the intent of the legislation, for example, ending tenancies after six months so that the rent can be increased with new tenants.

Today the government issued a discussion paper and is calling for submission on how to ensure the annual rent increase frequency limit is effective.

The discussion paper proposes changes that would apply the limit to the frequency of rent increases to the property, rather than the tenancy, regardless of whether the sitting tenants remain, or the property is re-tenanted.

Overview of the 2024 Tenancy Law Changes – What you need to know

With an election this year, in the lead up to the Budget we asked all political parties represented and the Independent in Parliament 3 questions

Tenants Queensland welcomes the passage of the Bill – but there is more to be done

Tenancy Law Reform Bill tabled – good start, more to do

Tenancy reforms announced

Minimum Standards Start Today

PM announces National rental reforms

Tenants Queensland (TQ) receives funding of $44.4 million over five years to continue the QSTARS program

Statement on the Worsening Rental Crisis

More effective changes to limit the frequency of rent increases?

Share your experience as a renter