Managing parties:
what do 6 June 2024 rental law changes mean for me?
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).
From 6 June 2024, several changes to Queensland’s tenancy laws will be introduced, which include:
Rent andincreases

Balancing privacy
and access

Rental bondprocesses

Regulation andenforcement

Otherchanges

The RTA is here to help you navigate the new rules and understand your rights and responsibilities.

Rent and increases•

Rent bidding – any person (not restricted to managing parties only) involved in the tenancy agreement
process, cannot invite, solicit, or accept an offer higher than the advertised rental amount fromprospective tenants (maximum 50 penalty units).

•Maximum rent in advance – a property manager/owner cannot, at the start of a new tenancy, solicit,
accept or invite a prospective tenant to pay more rent in advance that exceeds two weeks for aperiodic tenancy agreement or movable dwelling tenancy agreement and one month for a fixedtenancy agreement, even if a prospective tenant makes an offer to pay more than the amountprescribed in the legislation.
Note: throughout the course of a tenancy, a tenant may negotiate how much rent in advance canbe paid.

•Rent increases – rent increases can only occur once every 12 months and this now applies to theproperty or room, rather than the tenancy or rooming agreement. When starting a new rentalagreement, you cannot charge more than the previous tenancy if the property is re-let within the same
12 month period (maximum 20 penalty units). Additionally, new rental agreements must state the dateof the last rent increase, so be sure to include this information when preparing a new tenancy orrooming agreement (maximum 40 penalty units).

•Exemptions for rent increases – exempt property managers/owners and exempt providers/agentswill 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 rent increase – a tenant may request in writing, evidence of the date of the last rent
increase from the managing party, and you must provide to them within 14 days (maximum 40 penaltyunits). However, the requirement to provide evidence of a rent increase does not apply if the premises
is purchased within 12 months of commencement and you do not have information about the date of
the last rent increase. For more information, please visit our Rent increases webpage.

•Fixed price for rooming – you must advertise a room at a fixed price (maximum 50 penalty units).

•Undue hardship –you 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.

Balancing privacy and access•Smoke alarms – as a managing party, you may enter a room for the purposes of installing, maintaining
or repairing smoke alarms, provided you issue a notice of entry to the tenant, at least 24 hours inadvance.

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Rental bond processes•Commercial bond loans – if a tenant or resident obtains a bond loan from a commercial lender, theiragreed share of the bond will be directly refunded to the tenant.

•Bond for rooming accommodation / boarders and lodgers – if you take a bond for a room in apremises, where the owner lives onsite and there are three or less rooms for rent (including student
accommodation), then you must lodge the bond with the RTA within 10 days. The Act still does notcover this type of living arrangement or agreement unless it is a bond-related matter.

•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.

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) rental sector code ofconduct and (3) applications to make modifications for safety, security or accessibility. Keep an eye onthe RTA’s website for notice when these new regulations and requirements come into effect.

•Information sharing – the RTA will have the ability to share information with other regulatory bodies
including the Office of Fair Trading.

•Providing false and misleading information – expanded to include ‘the authority’ (RTA) and penalty
provisions apply.

•Greater enforcement – new offence provisions allow the RTA to take greater enforcement actions touphold compliance with the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. As amanaging party, it is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the new laws and to understand andmeet any new or additional requirements and obligations.

Other changes•

Ending tenancies – there are new grounds to end a short tenancy for moveable dwellings due to theend of the agreed short tenancy period. There is also greater clarity on ending tenancies when acommunity 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 – managing parties must now make reasonable efforts to contact former tenants orresidents, using several specified communications methods to advise them of their goods left behind.
There is also a revised process for the sale or disposal of goods where former tenants or residents are
not contactable.

•

Other – in general, some terminology and minor amendments have changed and while some penalty
provisions have been added, others have been increased.

Further changes
Additional changes introduced under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other
Legislation Amendment Act 2024 will continue to be rolled out. Keep an eye on our website for further
information as listed below.

Further information

For more information visit the Residential Tenancies Authority website

rta.qld.gov.au/rental-law-changes

Disclaimer:This quick guide is prepared for information only. The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008is the primary source on the law and takes precedence over this information should there be any inconsistency
between the Act and this quick guide.

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