Better rent protections
The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 received Assent on 6 June 2024.
The 'better rent protections' reforms came into effect on 6 June 2024. Other changes to the law will come into effect in stages.
Read more about changes to Queensland’s rental laws.
Ban on rent bidding
Rent bidding means prospective renters do not have a level playing field to find and get a rental home they can afford.
From 6 June 2024, all forms of rent bidding have been banned. Rental property owners and property managers are banned from:
- soliciting, inviting or accepting offers above an advertised amount
- soliciting, inviting or accepting offers of more rent in advance at the start of a tenancy, than
- 2 weeks' rent for periodic agreements and agreements for moveable dwelling premises (caravans or manufactured homes)
- 1 month's rent for other tenancy agreements.
Banning all forms of rent bidding improves fairness and transparency in the rental application process, and helps to stabilise rents. Penalties will be enforced against property managers and rental property owners who engage in these practices.
Limit on rent increase frequency
From 1 July 2023, Queensland’s rental laws limit the frequency of rent increases to once every 12 months for all new and existing tenancies. This action was necessary to help stabilise rents in the private market in response to rental affordability and cost-of-living pressures.
From 6 June 2024, the annual rent increase frequency limit applies to the property, rather than the tenancy. Breaching this requirement is an offence.
This reform helps renters keep their tenancy and ensures the annual rent increase limit is implemented effectively.
Application to QCAT about rent increases
From 6 June 2024, a rental property owner can apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) for an order to increase the rent before the 12-month limit if complying with the limit would cause undue hardship.
Before making an order, QCAT must consider any representation made by the renter about the likely impact on the affordability of the property and the renter’s ability to continue to pay rent.
This reform provides options for property owners who are significantly affected by the reform and ensures that QCAT considers the impact on renters when deciding rent increase applications.
Exemptions from the limit on rent increase frequency
Rental property owners or property managers who apply an income-based rent policy, such as community housing providers and crisis accommodation providers, require flexibility to adjust rent when:
- a renter’s income changes
- an additional household member moves in or out of the home
- a new renter takes possession.
From 6 June 2024, community housing providers and crisis accommodation providers who apply an income-based rent policy are exempt from the annual rent increase frequency limit.
Disclosing rent increases
From 6 June 2024, property owners and property managers are required to disclose the date that the rent was last increased on tenancy agreements.
Renters can also request evidence that substantiates the date of the last rent increase, and rental property owners or property managers will have 14 days to respond.
These reforms make it easier for renters to know when their rent is allowed to increase.
Breaching these requirements is an offence. However, property owners who purchased their property within the 12 months before 6 June 2024 and don’t have information about the date of the last rent increase will not be penalised.