Disclosing benefits – the property manager/owner must declare in writing any financial benefits they might receive if the tenant/resident uses a particular method to pay rent. A penalty of 20 penalty units applies for non-compliance.

Entry notice period – the minimum entry notice period increased from 24 hours to 48 hours.

Entry frequency – limits apply to the frequency of entry after a notice to end the tenancy has been issued.

Protecting privacy – limits apply to the personal information that can be requested and collected by managing parties.

Rental application process – property managers/owners are required to use a standardised tenancy application form (Form 22/R22) when a tenant/resident is applying for a rental property. Managing parties need to provide prospective tenants/residents at least 2 different ways to submit their applications. One of the ways must not be restrictive. There are also guidelines on what information managing parties may request from prospective tenants during the rental application process.

Request for fixtures and structural changes – revised process for a tenant to request fixtures and structural changes (in writing) to the managing party who must respond within 28 days.

Reletting costs – are calculated on the remaining time on the tenancy or rooming agreement and whether the fixed term agreement is greater or less than 3 years. For agreements up to 3 years it's the lower amount of the specified reletting costs or the rent until a new tenant/resident moves in.

Rent payments – tenants/residents must be offered two ways to pay rent including a way that does not incur more than usual bank costs and is reasonably available to a tenant.

Utility bills – a tenant must receive utility bills within a 4-week timeframe, otherwise the tenant does not need to pay. There are also changes to how water charges are calculated and can be charged when a tenancy begins or ends during a billing period.

Maximum bond – no more than 4 weeks rent can be requested by a managing party. There will be provision in certain circumstances for tenants/residents to request a refund of bonds paid over the maximum amount prior to 30 September 2024.

Evidence for bond claims – when making a bond claim or disputing a bond, the property manager/owner must provide supporting evidence to the tenant/resident within 14 days of lodging a claim or dispute. 
 

Information sharing – the RTA has the ability to share information with other government agencies and departments to drive greater compliance and enforcement outcomes for the sector.
Providing false and misleading information – it is an offence for anyone involved in a tenancy to provide false or misleading information to the RTA.

Rent bidding – rent bidding and accepting rent offers higher than the advertised price are banned.

Maximum rent in advance – a property manager/owner cannot, at the start of a new tenancy, solicit, accept or invite a tenant/resident to pay more rent in advance that exceeds 2 weeks for a periodic tenancy agreement, a rooming accommodation agreement or movable dwelling tenancy agreement and 1 month for a fixed tenancy agreement, even if a prospective tenant/resident makes an offer to pay more than the amount prescribed in the legislation. 
Note: during a tenancy, a tenant/resident may negotiate how much rent in advance can be paid.

Rent increases – are limited to 12 months and are attached to the property instead of the tenancy. Written agreements must state the date of the last rent increase.

Exemptions for rent increases – exempt property managers/owners and exempt providers/agents will be exempt from the minimum period to increase rent. The Act provides definitions for an exempt property manager/owner and an exempt provider.

Evidence of last increase – the date of the last rent increase must be included in the tenancy agreement. Tenants/residents have the right to request written proof of the last rent increase during the tenancy, and the property manager or owner must provide this information within 14 days. However, these requirements do not apply in the following cases:

• Exempt lessors: the Act outlines who qualifies as an exempt lessor.
• For properties being rented for the first time: the date of the last rent increase is the date the property is first rented.

Undue hardship – a managing party 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.

Fixed price – rooming accommodation must be advertised at a fixed price.

Smoke alarms – new grounds for entry to rooming accommodation to install, maintain or repair smoke alarms.

Commercial bond loans – the process for refunding bonds involving commercial bond loan suppliers has changed.

Bond for rooming accommodation – bonds must be lodged for each room where the owner lives on the premises and there are no more than three rooms available for rent, as well as student accommodation.

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.
 

Greater enforcement – new offence provisions allow the RTA to take greater enforcement actions to uphold compliance with the Act.

Ending tenancies – greater clarity on ending tenancies in the following situations: a short tenancy for moveable dwellings, when a community 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 – for managing parties to contact former tenants where goods are left behind and revised process of advertising stored goods.

Domestic and family violence – amendments to terminology and expansion of confidentiality requirements.

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

• increasing safe, secure and functional rental properties through minimum housing standards for all tenancies from 1 September 2024. 

• limiting the frequency of rent increases to once every 12 months – introduced by the Local Government Electoral and Other Legislation (Expenditure Caps) Amendment Act 2023
• increasing safe, secure and functional rental properties through minimum housing standards for new and renewing tenancies only from 1 September 2023.
   

• framework for all parties to negotiate renting with pets
• changes to approved reasons to end a tenancy
• additional options for tenants to address routine and emergency repairs through repair orders.

• stronger protections for renters experiencing domestic and family violence.