The Queensland Residential Tenancy rules are changing. There are significant changes coming into effect on 1 October 2022.

We thoroughly recommend you contact your property manager to discuss how these changes may directly affect you and your tenants.

Some of the most critical changes relate to:

Ending Tenancies

• The grounds for ending fixed term and periodic
tenancies have changed – there are now a number of new grounds and some changes to existing grounds.

• The right of a lessor to end a periodic tenancy without grounds has been removed and from 1 October 2022, lessors can only end a periodic tenancy for specific prescribed grounds under the RTRA Act.

• There are new offence provisions and penalties if a Form 12 Notice to Leave is issued on grounds and limitations are not complied with.

• There are new grounds for a tenant to end a tenancy
within the first 3 months by application to QCAT for
false and misleading information given by a property manager or lessor about certain matters.

• Expansion of grounds for tenant’s right to issue Form 13 Notice of Intention to Leave.

• There are new grounds for the lessor to make a QCAT application to end the tenancy.

Pet Approvals and Refusals

• Properties can no longer be advertised as “no pets allowed”.

• Lessors must respond to pet requests within 14 days – or the request will be approved

• Lessors can only refuse a pet request on prescribed grounds, and they must give reasons to tenants for why they believe those grounds apply.

• Lessors can impose conditions on a pet approval in line with the prescribed requirements.

Maximum Spend Limit for Emergency Repairs

• Tenants and property managers are now able to arrange emergency repairs to be made to the property up to a maximum amount equal to four (4) weeks’ rent under their tenancy agreement (increased from two (2) weeks’ rent).

Nominated Repairers

• The Form 18a General Tenancy Agreement must identify nominated repairers and if they are the tenant’s first point of call for emergency repairs.

• There are new requirements for the tenant to contact the nominated repairer before arranging for another repairer to carry out emergency repairs.

Repair Orders

• New type of QCAT order introduced – Repair Order.

• Tenant can apply if property or inclusions need repairs that fall into the category of routine or emergency repair.

• Outstanding Repair Orders must be disclosed in
Form 18a General Tenancy Agreement.

• A property cannot be lawfully leased while a Repair
Order is outstanding.

Other Changes

• New procedure and requirements for changing locks.

• Expanded retaliation provisions related to repair matters.

• Domestic & Family Violence provisions.

• Minimum Housing Standards coming into effect on
1 September 2023 for new tenancies and 1 September 2024 for existing tenancies.

• New provisions for the death of a sole tenant and co-tenant.
• Entry condition reports.