Changes to Queensland rental laws came into effect from 6 June 2024. Further changes to maximum bond amount, bond claims, compliance provisions and rent, bond and other payments commenced from 30 September 2024, as part of ongoing rental reforms. Learn more about the changes and what they mean for you.
Minimum housing standards came into effect for new tenancies (including renewed tenancy agreements) from 1 September 2023 and for all remaining tenancies from 1 September 2024.
The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (the Bill) was developed to broaden Queensland’s residential tenancy laws while making sure it is viable for property owners to provide housing options.
The Bill was developed around five key areas identified by the Queensland Government as priority areas for rental reforms, including:
- installing modifications
- making personalisation changes
- balancing privacy and access
- amending the rental bond process
- addressing fees and charges.
This Bill also sought to ensure the effectiveness of the annual rent increase frequency limit, which commenced on 1 July 2023.
To progress reforms across these areas, the Bill was introduced to Queensland Parliament on 21 March 2024 and was followed by a period of public consultation and detailed consideration by the Housing, Big Build and Manufacturing Committee.
The Bill passed Parliament on 23 May 2024 and received assent on 6 June 2024, key changes from assent include bonds for rooming accommodation, ban on rent bidding and limiting rent increases once every 12 months.
Proclamation will commence in two parts; proclamation part one commenced on 30 September 2024 and proclamation part two will commence on 1 May 2025.
Key changes that commenced on 30 September 2024 include maximum bond amount, reletting costs, rent payment methods, utility bills, evidence for bond claims, information sharing and false and misleading information.
Upcoming changes from 1 May 2025 include updates to the rental application process, entry notice periods, entry frequency, protecting privacy, disclosing benefits and a revised process for request for fixtures and structural changes.
It’s important to remember that not all changes introduced in the Bill commenced commence immediately. Changes from the amendments are being implemented in phases to ensure the sector has sufficient time to prepare for, understand and adopt the changes.
Learn more about the changes on our ongoing rental law changes webpage.
Documents relating to the Bill—including the Bill, explanatory notes and parliamentary committee submissions and reports—can be found on the Queensland Parliament website.
You can also watch our short explainer video for more information about the Bill as well as an overview on how new rental laws are created.
Previous rental law changes
Significant rental law reforms were introduced by the Housing Legislation Amendment Act 2021 and phased in over a three-year period to allow the sector to understand and adapt to the changes, as outlined below.