Glossary of terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

B

Bond contributor

A tenant who pays an amount towards the rental bond is a bond contributor. All bond contributors should be listed on the bond refund/bond.

Bond or rental bond

A security deposit paid at the start of a tenancy

C

Conciliation

Resolution, compromise, settlement, mediation

Co-tenancy / co-tenancies

All tenants are named on the tenancy agreement

E

Emergency repair

Serious problem needing urgent repair

Exempt lessor

Exempt lessor is defined in section 82A of the Act.

F

Fair wear and tear

Normal wear in a property

Fixed agreement

Tenancy agreement with a fixed start and end date

Fixture

Things attached or installed in the property, e.g. picture hooks

Fixtures

Things attached or installed in the property, e.g. picture hooks

I

Inclusions

Things included for use (e.g. dishwasher and furniture)

J

Joint lessor

Eg. a couple who jointly own a property and rent it directly to the occupant.

L

Lease break

If a property manager/owner or tenant ends a fixed term agreement before the end date without suffiicient reason

Lessor

A property owner

M

Mortgagee in possession

Mortgage company or bank takes over a property

Moveable dwelling

Caravan, manufactured home, or site

N

Notice to remedy breach

Written document asking a person to fix a problem

P

Parties to the agreement / parties

Everyone included in the agreement e.g. tenant and manager

Periodic agreement

Tenancy agreement that extends for an unspecified period

Property manager

Someone authorised by the property owner to manage the rental property on their behalf. Examples include real estate agent, caravan park manager and on-site manager

Property owner

A person who owns a property and rents it directly to the occupant. Also known as a lessor or landlord.

Provider

Person providing rooming accommodation

Q

Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT)

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) is an independent, accessible tribunal that efficiently resolves disputes on a range of matters, including residential tenancy matters. The tribunal's purpose is to provide a quick, inexpensive avenue to resolve disputes between parties and make decisions.

Queensland Fire Department

On 1 July 2024, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) changed it's name to the Queensland Fire Department (QFD).

R

Remedy breach

Fix a problem

Rent auctions / rent bidding

Bidding for how much rent a tenant will pay

Resident

A person who is renting a room and whose responsibilities include payment of rent.

Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008

The law for renting residential accommodation in QLD

Rooming accommodation

Boarding house, hostel, student accommodation

Routine repair

Non-serious problem which can be fixed routinely

RTA

Residential Tenancies Authority

S

Share home / share house

2 or more tenants share the house and costs

State of repair / fit state

Well maintained

Student

A student is a person who is enrolled at a university, college or school for the purpose of study.

Sub-letting

One tenant sub-lets to another

T

Tenancy agreement

Rental agreement, lease, contract

Tenant

A person who is renting a property and whose responsibilities include payment of rent.

The Act

Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008

The Tribunal

Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT)

Training

Sitecore training

U

Unliveable / non-liveable

Cannot be lived in

V

Vacant possession

Tenant must be out of the property

W

Warrant of possession

Court order to have control of the property

WELS rating

Water efficiency labelling scheme

Without grounds

Having no reason for doing something