5 impactful changes to the Queensland rental reforms- Property Management

As of September 30th, 2024, more significant changes to Queensland’s rental laws & legislations have come into effect.
The idea behind the recent & ongoing reforms are to balance the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords and trying to ensure a fairer and more transparent rental market.

Here are five impactful changes to general tenancies with the newest set of laws starting 30th September 2024:

1. Maximum Bond Amount
The new reforms cap the maximum bond amount at no more than four times the weekly rent for general tenancies. The idea behind this change was to try & reduce upfront costs for tenants when moving property.

2. Re-letting Costs for Break Lease
If a tenant needs to break their lease, the re-letting costs are now capped. This is calculated depending on how long your lease term is & how long is left on the fixed term tenancy agreement. The landlord/ property manager still has a duty to mitigate the tenant’s loss or expense despite the cap on the reletting costs.

3. Rent Payment Options
Landlords/ property managers must offer tenants at least two ways to pay rent, including one method that does not incur more than usual bank costs and is reasonably available to the tenant. This is to ensure tenants have cost effective payment options when paying rent.

4. Utility Bills
Tenants must receive utility bills within a four-week timeframe. If landlords fail to provide these bills on time, tenants are not required to pay them. This is to ensure invoices for items such as water charges or power bills are given to the tenant in a timely fashion & helps create smooth & transparent processes.

5. Evidence for Bond Claims
When making a bond claim or disputing a bond, property managers or landlords must provide supporting evidence to the tenant within 14 days of lodging the claim or dispute. This helps aim for smooth & transparent processes also.

The Queensland Government along with the Residential Tenancies Authority have stated that these rental reforms are part of a broader effort to improve the rental experience in Queensland, with further changes expected in 2025.

Staying informed about these updates is crucial for both tenants, landlords & real estate agencies to ensure compliance and make the most of the new regulations.

For more information see www.rta.qld.gov.au