Know your rights: A practical guide to renting in Queensland

Renting in Queensland is tougher than ever. With rents skyrocketing and competition for homes at an all-time high, it’s easy to feel like landlords – legally referred to as lessors – hold all the power. But renters have rights – and knowing them can make all the difference.

In recent years, affordable housing has become increasingly scarce. According to QCOSS, the proportion of private rentals available to low-income tenants has plummeted – from 36% in 2017 to just 10% last year. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the situation, driving up prices and tightening an already competitive rental market.

To help renters understand their rights, we spoke with Amy Tidbold, Community Education Worker at Tenants Queensland – a statewide organisation that provides a free tenancy advice service for all Queensland renters. Tenants Queensland also works to improve and protect the rights of all people who rent their homes.

From rent increases to eviction notices, here’s what every Queensland renter should know.

Jump to:

• What are my rights as a renter in Queensland?
• Minimum housing standards
• Quiet enjoyment and rules about entry
• Can my lessor evict me at the end of my lease?
• Rent increases in Queensland: What to know
• How recent law changes help Queensland renters
• Capped break lease fees
• Ban on rent bidding
• Fairer application and payment methods
• Practical advice and resources for Queensland renters

What are my rights as a renter in Queensland?

Queensland rental laws outline the rights and responsibilities of renters, agents and lessors when renting a property in Queensland. There are laws in place to protect tenants – but not everyone knows their rights.

“A lot of renters don’t realise what their rights are and the steps they can take to solve renting problems,” says Amy. “Knowing your rights and the legal processes available can give you more confidence in approaching problems with your lessor or agent.”

Lessors have legal obligations under Queensland rental laws. By law, lessors must:

• Ensure the property is clean, safe and in good repair when you move in.
• Maintain the property and inclusions throughout your tenancy.
• Respect your right to privacy and quiet enjoyment.
• Follow strict rules about entering the property.

“There’s no such thing as renting a property ‘as-is’ – if an appliance is an inclusion of the property, it has to be in good repair,” Amy says.

Minimum housing standards

“All rental properties must meet minimum housing standards,” Amy explains.

Minimum housing standards cover the safety, security and functionality of the property. For example:

• The property must be weatherproof and structurally sound.
• Included appliances must be safe and in good repair.
• External windows and doors that can be reached without using a ladder must have a functioning lock or latch.
• The property must be free of mould and pests (unless caused by the tenant).

Quiet enjoyment and rules about entry

Tenants are entitled to “quiet enjoyment,” meaning your lessor or agent must not interfere with your reasonable peace, comfort and privacy. Lessors can’t cut off your water or power, tell you who can visit, or enter the property whenever they like.

There are also strict rules about entry and in most circumstances your lessor or agent should give you an entry notice 48 hours before they enter. For routine inspections, tenants must receive a written notice at least seven days in advance.

“Lessors and agents need to follow the rules of entry,” says Amy. “They should not enter the property unless they have a reason allowed under tenancy law.”

Can my lessor evict me at the end of my lease?

Lessors must give tenants a formal Notice to Leave providing them with the minimum amount of notice required under Queensland tenancy law. The notice period depends on the type of tenancy and the reason for ending the tenancy.

“End of lease is the most common scenario, and in that case it’s a minimum of two months’ notice,” shares Amy. “There can be shorter time periods, too – for example, when a tenant has fallen behind in their rental payments or breached their agreement in another way. However, there is a process that the lessor needs to follow before they can give a tenant a Notice to Leave.”

While “no grounds” evictions were banned in Queensland in 2022, lessors can still end tenancies by citing “end of fixed term agreement” – without providing another reason.

“Even if someone has been a great tenant, they can be given a Notice to Leave at the end of their lease. The reason on the notice is just ‘end of fixed term agreement.’”

Amy says this is a top-of-the-list issue for Tenants Queensland. “It’s really troubling to see renters being forced to leave without proper explanation – especially in a market where it’s so hard to find another home.”

With the emotional and financial costs of moving, Amy urges tenants to seek advice early if they receive a Notice to Leave and are struggling to find another place to live.

Rent increases in Queensland: What to know

Eight years ago, a $30 weekly rent increase would have raised eyebrows. Now, increases of $100 or more are common.

“That could be someone’s whole grocery budget – just gone,” says Amy. “It’s really hard for people to come up with that extra money.”

The tight rental market adds to the squeeze: “Agents can stipulate any price they want and they'll probably find someone who's desperate enough to pay it, even if it puts them into hardship.”

Currently, Queensland has no statutory limit on the amount rent can be increased – but Tenants Queensland is lobbying to change that.

But there is progress. Recent law reforms now limit how often lessors can increase rent. Lessors can only raise rent once every 12 months and this is tied to the property, not the tenancy, meaning the 12-month rule applies even if there has been a change of tenants.

Previously, the 12-month limit applied only to individual tenancies, creating loopholes. “Some lessors got around it by offering short six-month leases, ending them, and increasing the rent for the next tenant,” Amy explains.

Now, rental increases are tied to the property instead of the tenancy. Tenants can ask for evidence of the date of the last rent increase to verify compliance.

If you think a rent increase is excessive, you can apply to the RTA to dispute it – but Amy says it can be difficult to prove and timeframes apply.

“It’s best to get advice as soon as you become aware of the rent increase,” she says.

How recent law changes help Queensland renters

Recent updates to Queensland tenancy laws have introduced stronger protections for renters, particularly around breaking lease, rent bidding and the application process. Amy highlights three key reforms making a difference.

Capped break lease fees

Before September 2024, renters who broke their lease faced having to pay the “reasonable costs” of their lessor in reletting the property – a vague wording that left tenants in an uncertain situation.

“What’s considered ‘reasonable’ is open to interpretation,” says Amy. “The legislation isn’t clearly defined, so tenants didn’t know how much they had to pay.”

The new law puts a cap on reletting costs, offering more certainty. The capped fee applies to tenancies entered into from 30 September 2024 and is based on the lesser of two amounts: the proportion of the lease already completed, or the rent owed until a new tenant moves in.

“Life happens, circumstances change, and a 12-month lease is a long time,” she says. “Now, tenants know there’s a limit to what they can be charged if they need to break a lease.”

Ban on rent bidding

One of the most welcomed changes is the ban on rent bidding, introduced in June 2024.

“It's now unlawful for an agent to solicit, invite or accept an offer of rent for a property that's higher than the amount that it's being advertised for,” says Amy. “This levels the playing field and stops tenants from feeling pressured to pay more just to secure a home.”

Renters also benefit as lessors can no longer accept an amount of rent in advance more than the maximum allowed under Queensland renting laws while the property is being advertised for rent.

Fairer application and payment methods

The reforms also tackled rental application processes and payment methods, putting an end to unfair fees and invasive data collection.

“Tenants must be given at least two ways to submit their application,” says Amy. “One of those options can’t involve paying fees or using a third-party platform that shares their data.”

New privacy safeguards mean lessors can no longer ask irrelevant or overly personal questions during the application process.

Payment rules have also improved. Lessors must offer rent payment options that don’t incur excessive fees.

“Some tenants were being pushed onto expensive third-party platforms with high transaction fees,” Amy explains. “Now, tenants must be given a reasonably available payment option that costs no more than a standard bank transfer.”

Practical advice and resources for Queensland renters

With years of experience helping renters, Amy has four key tips every Queensland tenant should know:

1. Keep all communication in writing. Try to keep all correspondence with a lessor or agent somewhere all parties can easily refer back to. If a lessor does call you, you can ask them to email you instead, or alternatively send them an email summarising the conversation to confirm you’re on the same page.
2. Do thorough entry and exit condition reports. Also take plenty of photos of the property – as soon as you move in and before you move out. This can help resolve any potential bond disputes.
3. Claim your bond back yourself. Don’t wait for your agent – you can lodge a bond claim directly through the Residential Tenancies Authorities (RTA) website. Doing so doesn’t guarantee that you will receive your bond, but it can give you an advantage in the event of a bond dispute.
4. Most importantly, ask for help early. Trust your gut feeling. If something feels wrong, reach out before things escalate.

Tenants Queensland offers a free statewide phone advice service and factsheets on all things rent-related. Don’t risk the roof over your head: visit tenantsqld.org.au for help understanding your rights.