Changes to Queensland rental laws came into effect from 6 June 2024. Further changes began on 30 September 2024. Learn more.
If a tenant/resident breaks a tenancy agreement and decides to leave early, they may be responsible for reletting costs. Reletting costs are used by a property manager/owner to support the reletting of a property (finding a new tenant).
Changes to reletting costs
Reletting costs for fixed-term tenancy agreements entered into on or after 30 September 2024 are calculated based on how much of the tenancy agreement has expired, or rent payable until a new tenant moves into the property, whichever is the lesser amount. No additional reletting costs can be requested from a tenant/resident.*
Residential tenancy agreements entered into before 30 September 2024 that include a term requiring tenants/residents to pay reasonable costs for reletting the premises and comply with the requirements of the previous section (s357A (1)) will be considered compliant under the Act and will still apply at the agreement end date.
*Reletting costs do not include any outstanding amounts such as unpaid rent in arrears, service charges such as water or gas, or damages to the property where a tenant/resident is still accountable.
Calculating reletting costs
Reletting costs for agreements under 3 years entered into on or after 30 September 2024 will vary depending on how much of the agreed tenancy duration has passed when a tenant/resident vacates, or the rent until a new tenant/resident moves in, whichever is the lesser amount.
| % of tenancy agreement that has expired | Reletting cost |
|---|---|
| Less than 25% | 4 weeks rent |
| 25% to less than 50% | 3 weeks rent |
| 50% to less than 75% | 2 weeks rent |
| 75% or more | 1 weeks rent |
For agreements over 3 years entered into on or after 30 September 2024, reletting costs are calculated based on which of the below methods produces the lowest amount:
- 1 month’s rent for each 12-month period remaining of the term of the agreement, up to a maximum amount equal to 6 months rent; or
- based on the rent that would be payable until a new agreement begins after the premises are relet.
Example calculations
The below examples show how reletting costs are calculated.
Online reletting costs calculator
Due to the complexity of individual tenancy arrangements, the RTA does not provide specific advice on reletting cost calculation services and costs are best calculated between parties using the calculations set out in the legislation.
To support calculations, we have an online reletting costs calculator. This tool enables tenants/residents and property managers/owners who entered into an agreement on or after 30 September 2024 to independently calculate reletting costs based on their specific lease terms and rental agreements.
The calculator provides a general estimate of reletting costs based on specified legislative guidelines and does not account for any outstanding amounts such as rent arrears, cleaning fees, or damages to the property. It does not constitute legal or financial advice and should not be relied upon as such. Users should conduct their own calculations tailored to their specific situation.
Reletting costs disputes
If there is a dispute about reletting costs that cannot be self-resolved through mutual agreement, the matter may proceed as follows:
- Bond claim dispute: the dispute can be addressed through the bond claim process at the end of the tenancy.
- Notice of Unresolved Dispute: if the dispute is not resolved during conciliation, the RTA will issue a Notice of Unresolved Dispute.
- QCAT resolution: the unresolved dispute will then be referred to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) for a formal decision.