• Rooming accommodation information
  • Terms used and their meanings
  • Information for providers of rooming accommodation
  • Starting an agreement
  • During an agreement
  • Ending an agreement
  • Renting rooming accommodation in Queensland
• Rooming style student accommodation
  • FAQs for providers
  • Useful links for students
• All rooming accommodation forms
• Fact sheets
  • Power to remove a resident fact sheet
• Frequently asked questions
• Contacts for people in rooming accommodation
• Order RTA forms for rooming accommodation

Rooming accommodation agreements

Remember: The rooming accommodation agreement (form R18) is a contract, a legal document between the resident and the provider/agent. 

It should be a document made up of eight (8) pages.

The resident and the provider/agent should discuss the details of the first two (2) pages and everything agreed should be written down.

The resident should then go through the terms of the rooming accommodation agreement on pages three (3) and four (4).

On page seven (7), the resident should read and agree with any special terms that are written down before they commit to the agreement (by signing it).

When a resident signs an agreement, they are agreeing with all conditions and rules contained within the eight (8) pages.

If the resident or the provider/agent act in a way that is different from what has been agreed on, then they are breaking (breaching) the agreement. This must be fixed (remedied).

Before a resident signs a rooming accommodation agreement they should know:

• Which room will they be living in and what is included
  The other areas of the house they can use. For example, they may have free use of the washing machine in the laundry.
• How long they will be living there
  The resident and the provider/agent should decide whether they will stay for a fixed term (e.g. three (3) or six (6) months) or for a periodic term. The resident should consider which term is best for them. If they don't believe they'll be staying long, a periodic agreement may be more suitable. If the resident plans to stay in a place for a while, a fixed term agreement may be best.
• The cost and frequency of rent payments
  A resident should never be asked to pay more than two weeks rent in advance. The resident should always be given a receipt when they pay their rent. They should always be given written notice of any changes in the rent.
• What the rent includes (e.g. if meals or other services are included)
  The resident should know how much they are paying for their room and how much they are paying toward other services like food. The resident should not be asked to pay extra or separately for electricity or water unless their room has a separate meter.
• Whether a rental bond is charged and if so, the amount
  A provider/agent doesn't have to charge a bond. If they do, it is money the resident pays in addition to rent. A bond is not required to be taken, however if a provider/agent charges a bond, it must be lodged with the RTA within 10 days. If the weekly rent is $500 or less, the most a resident can be asked to pay (as a bond) is four (4) times the weekly rent.
• The house rules
  The house rules are part of the rooming accommodation agreement. The resident should see a copy of the house rules before they sign the agreement. If possible, they should be given their own copy.
• Special terms written in the agreement
  A provider/agent may put special terms/rules in item 9 of the agreement. An example of a special term is: "The cleaner will need to enter the resident's room every Wednesday between 10.00am and 2.00pm to clean the carpet." The special terms may be different at different places. The resident needs to read these special terms carefully.
• The resident's rights and responsibilities
  The resident needs to make sure they read page three (3) of the rooming accommodation agreement. Items 14 and 15 in the standard terms of the agreement are about the rights and responsibilities of residents and providers/agents. They cover things like: a resident's right to privacy and the peaceful enjoyment of their room; a resident's responsibility for their guests' behaviour; a provider/agent's right to receive rent on time; a provider/agent's responsibility to provide a secure place which is fit for residents to live in.

Caution: Residents should only sign the rooming accommodation agreement if they:

• understand the information on all eight (8) pages of the agreement
• agree with everything in those eight (8) pages
• have seen and read a copy of the house rules or understand what they are.

More information

• House rules
• Rental bonds
• Rooming accommodation agreements fact sheet
• Rent fact sheet
• RTA Fact Sheet - Rental Bond
• RTA Fact Sheet - House Rules