What Are the New Rental Laws in Queensland for 2025?
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Direct Answer
Queensland’s new rental laws, effective from 1 May 2025, bring significant changes for tenants and landlords under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024. The key reforms affect rent increases, eviction notices, pets, and minimum property standards. At Enlight Lawyers, we help Brisbane renters and property owners understand and apply these updated rules.
Key Takeaways
- Rent increases are limited to once every 12 months, with at least two months’ written notice.
- Landlords must now have a valid prescribed reason to end a periodic tenancy.
- Tenants can request to keep a pet, and landlords can only refuse on reasonable grounds.
- Minimum housing standards apply to new tenancies from 1 May 2025 and all tenancies from 1 May 2026.
- Updated Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) forms must be used from 1 May 2025.
What are the new rental laws in Queensland for 2025?
The changes come from the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024, which amended Queensland’s Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. They are designed to strengthen renters’ rights and clarify landlord obligations. Here are the main reforms.
Rent increases
Landlords can only increase rent once every 12 months and must give tenants at least two months’ written notice using the approved RTA form. This applies to both fixed-term and periodic tenancies, unless the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) approves a different arrangement.
Ending a tenancy
From 1 May 2025, landlords cannot end a periodic tenancy without a valid reason. Prescribed grounds include selling the property, major renovations, or the landlord or their immediate family moving in. Landlords must give at least two months’ notice and provide evidence of the ground if requested. Tenants can still end a periodic tenancy with one month’s notice.
Pets in rental properties
Tenants now have a clear right to request a pet. Landlords must respond within 14 days and can only refuse on reasonable grounds – for example, if the property is genuinely unsuitable or the pet would cause undue hardship. If a landlord refuses unreasonably, the tenant can apply to the RTA for dispute resolution.
Minimum housing standards
Rental properties must now meet basic minimum standards covering security, privacy, safety, and functionality. This includes working door locks, adequate ventilation, a functional kitchen and bathroom, and a property free from vermin. These standards apply to new tenancy agreements from 1 May 2025 and to all existing tenancies from 1 May 2026.
Updated RTA forms
All tenancy agreements, bond lodgements, rent increase notices, and termination notices must use the updated RTA forms from 1 May 2025. Using an outdated form can make a notice invalid.
Practical application in Australia
In Brisbane and across Queensland, these changes affect everyday tenancy arrangements. For example, a tenant in Slacks Creek or inner Brisbane can now request a pet and challenge a landlord’s refusal through the RTA. Landlords must ensure their property meets minimum standards before signing new leases, and they must use the correct forms when issuing notices.
Our property law team regularly advises tenants and landlords on their rights under the new framework. We review tenancy agreements, assess eviction notices, and help resolve bond disputes. If you are unsure how the changes affect you, contact us for advice – we offer a free initial consultation.
Common risks or mistakes
For tenants:
- Not knowing that a rent increase is invalid if it occurs within 12 months of the last increase.
- Accepting an eviction notice that does not state a valid prescribed ground.
- Failing to request a pet in writing or missing the 14-day response window.
- Not documenting the property’s condition at the start of the tenancy.
For landlords:
- Issuing a termination notice without a valid reason or without the required notice period.
- Refusing a pet request without reasonable grounds.
- Using outdated RTA forms, which can invalidate the notice.
- Ignoring minimum housing standards and facing penalties or QCAT orders.
Step-by-step process: what to do if you receive a rent increase or eviction notice
- Check the notice: is it in writing, on the correct RTA form, and signed?
- Verify the notice period: at least two months for a rent increase or a no-grounds eviction (where applicable).
- For an eviction, confirm the landlord has stated a valid prescribed ground.
- For a rent increase, confirm at least 12 months have passed since the last increase.
- If you believe the notice is invalid, apply to the RTA for dispute resolution within the required timeframe.
- Seek legal advice before responding, negotiating, or vacating the property.
Comparison: old vs new rules
| Area | Before 1 May 2025 | From 1 May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Rent increases | Once per 12 months, two months’ notice | Unchanged – still once per 12 months, two months’ notice |
| Ending a periodic tenancy | Landlord could end without a reason | Landlord must have a prescribed ground |
| Pets | Landlord could refuse without reason | Tenant can request; refusal must be reasonable |
| Minimum housing standards | Voluntary guidelines | Mandatory for new tenancies (all tenancies from May 2026) |
| RTA forms | Older versions | Updated forms required |
Practical next steps
Understanding your rights under Queensland’s new rental laws is essential. At Enlight Lawyers, we provide clear, practical advice for tenants and landlords across Brisbane. Our team speaks Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Mandarin, and we offer fixed fees and a free initial consultation.
Call us on (07) 3495 1884 or visit our office at 10/1-3 Noel Street, Slacks Creek QLD. You can also meet our lawyers or book a consultation online.