Tenants Queensland (TQ) strongly rejects the recent call from the Property Council of Australia (POA) to weaken tenancy laws in response to rising demand for student accommodation. Students are already struggling in a tight rental market, face soaring rents, low vacancy rates and intense competition just to secure a home.
These pressures mirror what renters across Queensland are experiencing every day though students, especially those in purpose-built accommodation experience specific vulnerabilities. Most are international students coming from countries with differing renting rules and both international and domestic students are often first-time renters not fully aware of their rights, making them particularly vulnerable to unfair terms and pressure.
The POA argues that changes to tenancy laws are needed to encourage more student accommodation development, despite acknowledging that Brisbane already has a “decent” pipeline of new supply underway.
Renter protections are not the barrier to new construction — and developers should not be permitted to use the housing crisis to pursue an agenda to weaken tenant rights.
TQ CEO, Penny Carr said, “Domestic and international students living in student accommodation are often living away from home for the first time, navigating an overheated rental market and unfamiliar systems. This leave them vulnerable, potentially coerced into contracts that are not to their benefit, and are unaffordable”.
For many years students have experienced the problem of inflexible contracts that extend well beyond the academic calendar, leaving them paying high rents after their study period or their study ends. Rather than seeking legislative changes, proprietors of purpose‑built student accommodation should focus on better tailoring their product to student needs.
Ms Carr continued, “Students need security, fairness, and affordable housing — not weaker rights or special rules that leave them even more exposed”.
TQ also firmly opposes any proposal to introduce a separate class of rental rules for students. Creating a two‑tier system would expose young people to weakened protections and greater risk of exploitation. All renters deserve strong, consistent safeguards, regardless of their age, country of origin, or education status.
TQ urges the Queensland Government to reject any industry‑driven proposals that would erode rental safeguards or carve out special rules for student accommodation. Housing solutions must support renters. Queensland needs more affordable homes, not fewer rights.
