Natural disasters

Emergency Assistance

Call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

Your local council will provide public safety directives and evacuation centres for temporary accommodation where needed.

The Department of Housing and Public Works provides emergency housing support, financial assistance and other support following a disaster.

Always follow active public safety directives during disasters.

Severe weather including storms, flooding, cyclones, bushfires and other natural disasters can cause major damage to rental properties.

After a natural disaster, property managers/owners and tenants/residents should discuss the state of the property as soon as possible. If the property is damaged or unliveable, our step-by-step guides can help you work out what to do next:

Disasters can cause service disruptions, leading to delays in RTA processing times and postal deliveries. If you live in an affected area and are expecting mail from the RTA, please contact us for support. You can also update your details online with the RTA to receive essential notifications via email.

When a property becomes unliveable

A property becomes unliveable when it:

  • is fully or partially destroyed
  • can no longer be used lawfully as a residence (e.g. the building is condemned due to health and safety risks).

Parties may agree to end a tenancy after a natural disaster makes a property unliveable, or they may consider continuing the tenancy.

Ending a tenancy after a natural disaster

A tenancy does not automatically end when a property becomes unliveable after a natural disaster. A tenancy agreement can be ended if:

When a tenancy is ended due to unliveability, the agreement ends on the date the notice is given. The person giving the notice may also choose a longer notice period.

If the tenant refuses to leave, the property manager/owner can apply to QCAT for a termination order.

Visit ending a tenancy agreement for more information.

Continuing the tenancy

The tenant/resident may want to stay in the property even if it's partially destroyed. This can be negotiate with the property manager/owner. Health and safety laws should be considered when making this decision.

If the tenant/resident has been given a Notice to leave and they believe the property is liveable, they may lodge an online request for free RTA dispute resolution or submit a Dispute resolution request (Form 16).

Repairs and maintenance after a natural disaster

The property manager/owner is responsible for any repairs and maintenance needed to make the property liveable (including fences, windows, doors, roofs and gardens). These may be considered emergency repairs.

It’s usually the property manager/owner’s responsibility to organise and pay for property repairs. Parties should negotiate a suitable time for repairs to be done (entry rules apply). Tenants/residents should be aware that the property manager/owner may contact their insurance company about repairs.

The tenant is responsible for repairing, removing or cleaning their own possessions. 

Paying rent

Until a notice is given (e.g. a Notice to leave), the tenant is responsible for paying the rent in full, even if they have been evacuated from the property. 

Rent decreases

The rent may be decreased if the property is damaged or if some of the facilities are unavailable. Rent may be decreased when:

  • there is a drop in the standard of the property, room or service
  • there is a decrease in services provided.

The rent decrease can be negotiated and should be put in writing.

The tenant/resident may want to leave the property and return after the damage has been repaired. Any agreement to waive the rent during that period should be put in writing.  

The property manager/owner and tenant/resident may also agree to end the agreement and sign a new agreement after repairs are completed. The terms of the new agreement need to be negotiated and may differ from the old agreement, including the rent amount. Limits apply to the frequency of rent increases.

Visit rent decreases for more information. 

 

 

Get support

In an emergency

Call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. 

Disaster management 

During a disaster, follow active public safety directives and check the latest information available from:

Your local council will also provide information on severe weather and natural disasters in your area. Visit your council's website to access their disaster management page and sign up for alerts. 

Other information and assistance