Electricity rebate
The Queensland Government has announced a $1000 cost of living electricity rebate payment for eligible households in 2024-25. Eligibility is determined by factors such as if your premises is separately metered and billed. Learn more at the Queensland Government's website. The Australian Government has also announced a $300 electricity rebate for all households in 2024-25.
Changes to Queensland rental laws came into effect from 6 June 2024. Further changes began on 30 September 2024. Learn more.
Tenants usually pay for services such as electricity, gas, phone and internet. They may also be charged for water (conditions apply).
Separate service changes must be recorded under item 12 in the General tenancy agreement (Form 18a) item 13 in a Moveable dwelling agreement (Form 18b), or item 16 in a Rooming accommodation agreement (Form R18).
For general service charges in tenancy agreements, moveable dwellings, and rooming accommodations where tenants/residents pay for utilities or other services, a property manager/owner must provide a tenant/resident with a copy of the document from the relevant service provider that shows the charges. This must be done within four weeks of the property manager/owner receiving the document.
This requirement applies to individually metered utilities for moveable dwellings including utilities services for rooming accommodations. It does not include service charges or utilities services that are included in the rent.
Caravan park
Electricity, water, reticulated gas and sewerage are connected to the park in the name of the property owner/manager.
The property owner/manager can pass these costs on to the tenant by:
- including the cost of the services with the rent, or
- adding a separate charge on top of the rent (but only if the service is individually metered to the caravan).
A tenant/resident is not required to pay for service charges if a property manager/owner fails to provide a copy of the document from the relevant service provider showing the charges within four weeks of receiving it to a tenant/resident. This applies to general tenancy, and rooming accommodation agreements and moveable dwellings.
Extra bond
An additional week’s bond may be taken for electricity in a caravan park, if it is individually metered and billed in the owner's name. This cannot be more than 1 weeks rent and must be lodged with the RTA within 10 days.