How to leave a tenancy due to domestic and family violence

Help in an emergency

Call 000 if you or someone else is in danger.    

For non-emergency support, call the 1800RESPECT domestic violence helpline on 1800 737 732 (available 24/7). 

If you don’t feel safe to stay in a rental property due to domestic and family violence, there are steps you can take to leave under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the Act).

Moving out and giving notice

You can move out immediately. However, you must give your property manager/owner 7 days notice to end your interest in the tenancy with a Notice ending tenancy interest (domestic and family violence) and supporting evidence.

Evidence can include a protection order, temporary protection order or a Domestic and family violence report. You can provide a copy of the evidence to your property manager/owner or allow them to inspect the evidence in person. If more than one tenant/resident is leaving due to domestic and family violence, they each need to provide a Form 20/R20 and supporting evidence.

While you can move out immediately, you will still need to pay rent to cover the 7-day notice period.

You are not responsible for any costs associated with ending the agreement or your interest in it, including goods left behind or reletting costs. If you are a sole tenant/resident, you will be fully responsible for any other costs associated with breaching the terms of the agreement (such as rent arrears).

Property manager/owner response to the notice

When you give a property manager/owner a Notice ending tenancy/residency interest (domestic and family violence) with supporting evidence, there are steps they must take to respond.

If there are other tenants/residents on the agreement, the property manager/owner must wait a minimum of 7 days (but no later than 14 days) after you stopped being part of the tenancy to notify them.

Applying to QCAT to terminate a tenancy due to domestic and family violence

If you don’t want to stay in a property, an alternative option for ending a general tenancy or moveable dwelling agreement is to submit an urgent application to QCAT for a termination order. You can apply for a termination order if another tenant has committed domestic and family violence against you, has seriously damaged the property or is likely to seriously damage the property.

After applying for a termination order, you can also apply to QCAT for an order to restrain the person who has committed an act of domestic and family violence or damaged the property from causing further injury or damage

Before QCAT can make an order, they must be satisfied that you have established the grounds for damage or potential damage to the property or evidence of domestic and family violence, such as having a protection order or having applied for one.

Applying for a bond refund after domestic and family violence

Once you have given a notice ending your tenancy interest , you or your property manager/owner can request a refund of your bond contribution. RTA will process the request once you have moved out of the property and the tenancy has ended or you have stopped being part of the tenancy.

Bond claims or disputes

If the Bond refund for persons experiencing domestic and family violence (Form 4a) is only signed by one party and that party has claimed some or all of the bond, the RTA will send a Notice of claim to the other party and they will have 14 days to dispute the bond claim.

If the party receiving the Notice of claim takes no action before the 14-day notice period expires, the RTA will pay the bond refund as per the Form 4a request.

If you and the property manager/owner are unable to resolve a bond dispute, you can request free dispute resolution from the RTA by submitting a Dispute resolution request form (Form 16) . For more information, see RTA dispute resolution service.

If the property manager/owner makes a claim on the bond or disputes your refund request, they must provide you with supporting evidence within 14 days of the bond claim or dispute.

The property manager/owner will need to follow the bond dispute process even if they have made an application to QCAT to set aside the Notice ending tenancy interest.

Bond top up

If there are other tenants/residents and they are required to top up the rental bond to make up the amount refunded to you, the property manager/owner must advise them in the Continuing interest notice:

  • that they are required to top up the rental bond
  • the amount they must pay to top up the rental bond
  • the due date of the bond top up (which must be at least one month after the notice is given).

Confidentiality and privacy

If you have experienced domestic and family violence in a rental property, additional protections for privacy and confidentiality apply.

Help and support

Call 000 if you or someone else is in danger. For non-emergency support, call the 1800RESPECT domestic violence helpline on 1800 737 732 (available 24/7).

You can find other local domestic and family violence support services in your area and helplines in the Queensland Government’s help and support options directory

For more information about tenancy options in a domestic and family violence situation, contact the RTA on 1300 366 311.

Domestic and family violence in a rental property – process flowcharts

General tenancies

Rooming accommodation

Domestic and family violence report
v11 01Sep25

The Domestic and family violence report which must be completed and signed by an authorised professional can be provided as a type of relevant evidence to support that a tenant/resident is/has been experiencing domestic and family violence.  

172.7 kB Download

Continuing interest notice
v5 28Nov24

The Continuing interest notice has been developed to support property managers/owners, agents or managers/providers to fulfil their obligations under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008.

174.1 kB Download