Upcoming Legislative Changes in Queensland: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know
At Wings Real Estate, we believe in keeping our community informed and prepared. Whether you're a landlord or a tenant, it's essential to stay up-to-date with the latest legislative changes that affect rental properties. Recently, the Queensland Parliament passed the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024, bringing significant updates to rental laws. These changes will be rolled out in two phases, with important dates to keep in mind: September 30, 2024, and May 1, 2025.
Key Changes Effective September 30, 2024
Starting on September 30, 2024, several new regulations will come into effect, impacting how certain charges are handled and how disputes are managed:
- Billing for Service Charges: Landlords will need to provide tenants with bills for service charges, such as water consumption, within four weeks of receiving them from the supply authority. If this deadline is missed, tenants will not be required to pay these charges.
- Water Consumption Charges: If a water bill covers only part of a billing period, tenants are not obligated to pay unless the property manager calculates the charges in accordance with the RTRA Act.
- Breaking a Lease: When a tenant breaks a lease, reletting costs must be calculated using a statutory formula to ensure fairness and transparency.
- Bond Claims: Landlords must provide tenants with evidence to support a bond claim or dispute resolution request within 14 days of making the claim. This change aims to streamline the process and ensure timely resolutions.
- Bond Limits: The maximum bond limit will be standardised across all rental properties. Regardless of the weekly rent amount, a maximum bond of four weeks' rent will apply.
For landlords who on-charge water usage to tenants, please note that we require seven clear working days to process and invoice these charges. This timeframe takes into account weekends, public holidays, and any out-of-office inspections. If your property is individually metered, and tenants are responsible for water usage, we kindly ask that you forward us the water rates as soon as you receive them.
Key Changes Effective May 1, 2025
Looking ahead to May 1, 2025, additional regulations will be introduced, further shaping the rental landscape. These include:
- Tenancy Applications: Property managers will be required to use a prescribed form for tenancy applications, standardising the information collected from prospective tenants.
- Information Requests: Property managers will only be allowed to request specific types of information from potential tenants, with certain types of information being prohibited from request. This helps to protect tenants against discrimination based upon factors that aren't relevant to a leasing agreement.
- Entry Notice Periods: The notice period for property entry will be extended from 24 hours to 48 hours, giving tenants more time to prepare.
- Attachment of Fixtures: A new process will be established for tenants wishing to attach fixtures or make structural changes to a rental property. This process will outline how such requests should be made and evaluated.
Staying Informed
We understand that these changes might raise questions, and we’re here to help. For a more detailed breakdown of these legislative updates, we recommend reading the comprehensive article by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ): Proclamation Update: Stage 2 Rental Law Reforms in Queensland.
Additionally, the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) provides ongoing updates on these changes, which you can explore here: RTA's Ongoing Rental Changes.
At Wings Real Estate, we are committed to guiding our landlords and tenants through these changes with clarity and support. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team. Together, we can navigate these new regulations and continue to foster a positive rental experience for all.