Reletting costs

If a tenant/resident breaks a tenancy agreement and decides to leave early, they may be responsible for reletting costs.

For fixed-term tenancy agreements entered into on or after 30 September 2024, you can use the reletting costs calculator to estimate reletting costs.

Go to the reletting costs calculator

What are reletting costs?

Reletting costs are used by a property manager/owner to support the reletting of a property (finding a new tenant) when a tenant/resident ends a tenancy agreement early. Reletting costs are calculated based on how much of a fixed-term tenancy agreement remains.

Reletting costs do not include any outstanding amounts such as unpaid rent in arrears, service charges such as water or gas, or damage to the property where a tenant/resident is still accountable.

Any special terms relating to reletting costs cannot contradict the criteria set out in the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the Act) for calculating costs.

Mitigating loss to tenants

When looking to replace a tenant/resident that has ended an agreement early, property managers/owners must take all reasonable steps to mitigate the loss or expense to the tenant as per section 362 of the Act.

Reasonable steps could include advertising the property soon after the tenant/resident advises they are ending the agreement and showing the property to prospective tenants/residents.

When a property is not intended to be relet

If a property is not intended to be relet after a tenant/resident has ended an agreement early, then reletting costs cannot be calculated. For example, if the owner decides to move into the property because the agreement ended early, or sell the property without finding a new tenant, then reletting fees cannot be calculated because the property is not intended to be relet.

In this situation, the property manager/owner and tenant/resident may talk to each other and agree to reasonable compensation. The duty to mitigate loss still applies.

If an agreement is ended with a valid reason

If a tenant/resident ends an agreement for a valid reason, reletting costs cannot be calculated.

For a full list of valid reasons for ending a tenancy, see our ending a tenancy agreement page.

Advertising and other costs

A property manager/owner cannot charge a tenant/resident advertising costs or other fees associated with ending an agreement early (such as one week’s rent plus GST as a ‘relet fee’). The reletting costs calculated using the method below are the only costs that can be claimed for reletting a property.

Calculating reletting costs

For fixed-term tenancy agreements entered into on or after 30 September 2024, reletting costs are calculated based on either:

how much of the agreement is left when the tenant/ resident ends it early, or
the rent payable until a new tenant/ resident moves in.

The lesser of the two amounts can be charged as a reletting costs. A tenant/resident cannot be charged any other reletting costs.

Agreements under 3 years

Reletting costs for agreements under 3 years entered into on or after 30 September 2024 vary depending on how much of the agreed tenancy duration has expired when a tenant/resident vacates, or the rent until a new tenant/resident moves in, whichever is the lesser amount.

If the rent until a new tenant/resident moves in is less than the amount below, this should be charged as the reletting costs instead.

% 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 week's rent

Example calculation for an agreement under 3 years

These calculations show how reletting costs change depending on the percentage of the tenancy agreement that has expired at the time of tenancy termination, using a weekly rent of $500 as the basis. No additional costs such as advertising fees can be added to the reletting costs.

If the rent until a new tenant/resident moves in is less than the amount below, this should be charged as the reletting costs instead.

% of tenancy agreement that has expired	Reletting cost	Calculations	Reletting costs
Less than 25%	4 weeks rent	If a tenant/resident ends the tenancy agreement after 2 months (16.6% expired), the reletting cost would be 4 weeks rent	4 weeks rent at $500 = $2,000 reletting costs
25% to less than 50%	3 weeks rent	If a tenant/resident ends the tenancy agreement after 5 months (41.66% expired), the reletting cost would be 3 weeks rent	3 weeks rent at $500 = $1,500 reletting costs
50% to less than 75%	2 weeks rent	If a tenant/resident ends the tenancy agreement after 7 months (58.33% expired), the reletting cost would be 2 weeks rent	2 weeks rent at $500 = $1,000 reletting costs
75% or more	1 week's rent	If a tenant/resident ends the tenancy agreement after 9 months (75% expired), the reletting cost would be 1 week's rent	1 week's rent at $500 = $500 reletting costs
Remember: Reletting costs for agreements under 3 years entered into on or after 30 September 2024 will vary based on how much of the agreed tenancy duration has expired when a tenant/resident vacates, or the rent until a new tenant/resident moves in, whichever is the lesser amount. For example: if a property is relet 5 days after a tenancy agreement was ended early, the reletting costs would be equivalent to 5 days rent (the lesser amount) and the percentage calculation method does not apply.

Agreements over 3 years

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:

one 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.

No additional costs such as advertising fees can be added to the reletting costs.

Example calculation for an agreement over 3 years

These calculations show both methods for calculating reletting costs for agreements over 3 years.

one 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.

Calculation method used	Amount of tenancy agreement term remaining	Calculations	Possible reletting costs
Method 1	2 years remain on a 4-year tenancy agreement	If a tenant/resident ends the lease after 2 years, and it takes 3 months to find a new tenant, the reletting cost would be 2 months rent.	2 months rent at $500 per week (approximately $4,000 total)
Method 2	2 years remain on a 4-year tenancy agreement	If a tenant/resident ends the lease after 2 years and it takes 13 weeks to find a new tenant, reletting costs would be 13 weeks rent.	13 weeks rent at $500 ($6,500 total)
In the above example, reletting costs would calculated using method 1 (2 months rent at $500 per week), as this is the lesser amount.

Agreements entered into before 30 September 2024

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 calculator

Due to the complexity of individual tenancy arrangements, the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) does not provide specific advice on reletting cost calculations. Costs are best calculated between parties using the calculations set out in the legislation.

To support calculations, we have created the reletting costs calculator below. 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 tool only estimates reletting costs where the tenant/resident hands over vacant possession of the property before the end of their fixed-term agreement.

If the rent until a new tenant/resident moves in is less than the amount worked out with the calculator, this should be charged as the reletting costs instead.

By using this calculator, you acknowledge and agree to the terms and limitations below.

Disclaimer for reletting costs calculator

This reletting cost calculator is provided as a general guideline for estimating potential reletting costs based on the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, particularly sections 357A (3)(a) and (4) for general tenancy agreements, and sections 396A (3)(a) and (4) for rooming accommodation agreements.

It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a definitive determination of reletting costs. This calculator 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.

Limitation of liability for reletting costs calculator

The RTA is not responsible for any errors, omissions, inconsistencies or inaccuracies of the information available through this calculator.
The RTA is not liable for any losses, damages, or other consequences incurred as a result of using this calculator or relying on any results provided by this calculator.
Users are responsible for verifying the results and making decisions based on their own calculation and understanding.

Updates and changes to the reletting costs calculator

The calculator and disclaimer may be updated periodically. Users should review the disclaimer regularly for any changes.
The RTA is not responsible for any out-of-date information provided in this calculator, as there may be a delay between when a change takes effect, and when the information available through this calculator is updated.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Can customers call the RTA Contact Centre to calculate reletting costs?

Due to the complexity of individual tenancy arrangements, the RTA does not provide reletting cost calculation services. Reletting costs should be discussed and calculated between parties using the guidance and examples provided above. Parties can also use the reletting costs calculator above to estimate costs.

What are the limitations on QCAT orders in favour of a property manager/owner concerning reletting costs?

Any amount specified in a QCAT order in relation to reletting costs in favour of a property manager/owner cannot exceed the reletting costs that would be payable using the calculations as set out in the Act.

What happens to tenancy agreements entered into before 30 September 2024 that include a term about paying reletting costs?

If a residential tenancy agreement entered into before 30 September 2024 includes a term requiring tenants/residents to pay reasonable costs for reletting the premises, the term will still apply providing it is compliant with the requirements of the previous section (s357A (1)) of the Act.

Residential Tenancies Authority