Tenancy & Accommodation Information

 During Your Tenancy

While you are renting the place, you must:  

• Look after it and keep it clean
• Let the owner know if anything needs to be fixed
• Not damage or allow someone else to damage the place
• Not cause trouble or be a nuisance for your neighbours
• Not use the place for an unlawful purpose such as criminal activity
• Get written permission from the owner to change anything at the place, if you want to keep a pet or if you want a new person move into the property
• Pay the rent on time

During your tenancy, the law requires that the owner maintains the property so it is fit for you to live in, in good repair and complies with health and safety laws.  The owner must also comply with minimum housing standards, which involves ensuring that the place:

• has a roof and windows that prevent water entering and the structure must be sound (not likely to collapse due to rot or other defects);
• is in good repair with fixtures and fittings (such as electrical appliances) not likely to cause injury through normal use;
• has a working toilet and the bathroom/toilet facilities provide the user with privacy;
• is free from damp and mould;
• has a hot and cold water supply suitable for drinking;
• has adequate plumbing and drainage for the number of people living in the place;
• has a working cooktop in the kitchen, if a kitchen is included in the place;
• has the fixtures (e.g. tap, electrical outlet) needed to provide a functional laundry if a laundry is included in the place. (The owner or agent are not required to provide a washing machine or dryer);
• is free from vermin e.g. rats and other pests;
• has privacy coverings e.g. curtains, over windows in all rooms where privacy is reasonably expected;
• has doors and windows fitted with working locks needed to keep the premises secure.

The owner must make repairs to the place that you request within a reasonable timeframe. If the owner does not make the repairs within a reasonable timeframe, you can give the owner a breach notice by filling out a RTA Form 11 Notice to Remedy Breach. You can get this form from the RTA website.

You also have the right to privacy and for the place to be reasonably secure.

If the owner or their agent wants to enter the place, they must give you written notice with a lawful reason to enter it.

During your tenancy, the owner cannot increase your rent more than once in a 12-month period.

Ending Your Tenancy

When you rent a place to live in Queensland, if you decide to move out you must follow the steps required by the law to end your agreement. In most situations, if you want to end your tenancy agreement you will need to give written notice. Your notice must state the date you plan to move out and whether you are ending the agreement with a reason stated in tenancy law. You should get advice from Tenants Queensland QSTARS if you want to move out before the end date on your tenancy agreement.

If the owner wants to end the tenancy, they must give a reason stated in tenancy law. They must also provide you with a written Notice to Leave and provide you with a minimum timeframe. The timeframe they are required to give you depends on their reason for ending the tenancy. You can find the minimum notice periods on the back of the Notice to Leave.

In some cases, either you or the owner may apply to the Tribunal for an order to end the tenancy before the end day of a lease, for example if continuing the lease would cause excessive hardship. You should get advice from Tenants Queensland QSTARS if the owner applies to the Tribunal to end the tenancy.

When you leave the place, you must take all your property with you. You must also leave the place clean and tidy like it was at the start of the tenancy. However, you will not be responsible for wear that occurs from everyday use of the place.

Get photos showing you have left the place clean and keep those photos.

Before you move out, you must also fill out an Exit Condition Report to say what the place is like when you leave the property. You can get this form from the agent or the RTA website. Keep a copy of this form and give the original copy of the form to the owner or their agent.

Return all keys to the place to the owner or their agent on the day you move out.

You also need to provide your new contact details to the agent so if any of your property and documents get left behind the owner or their agent can return it to you, so the agent can send you other documents.

To get your bond money back after you move out, you will need to fill out a Refund of Rental Bond Form and send it to the RTA. You can also make a bond claim online on the RTA website.

Sometimes, the owner or their agent may claim the money from your bond if you have left the place dirty, owe rent, damaged the place or have broken another condition of your agreement. If you disagree, you can use the RTA’s free dispute process to solve the problem. You should get advice from Tenants Queensland QSTARS if you have a dispute with the agent or owner.

For free tenancy information and advice call Tenants Queensland – Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service (QSTARS) on 1300 744 263 or visit the QSTARS website - qstars.org.au.