Rent Increase Laws in Queensland: The New 12-Month Rule

Queensland currently operates one of the strictest rent increase frameworks in Australia. Following significant amendments to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (RTRA Act) that took effect on June 6, 2024, landlords must navigate severe limitations on both the timing and the frequency of rent increases.

The 12-Month Limit (Attached to the Property)

In Queensland, rent can only be increased once every 12 months.

Crucially, the 2024 Stage 2 Rental Law Reforms fundamentally changed how this 12-month limit is applied. The 12-month limit is now attached to the property, not the tenancy.

This means a landlord cannot bypass the 12-month rule simply by finding a new tenant.

Scenario: Changing Tenants

• January 1: You increase the rent for Tenant A to $600/week.
• June 1: Tenant A breaks their lease and moves out. You find Tenant B to move in.
• Result: You cannot increase the rent for Tenant B. Even though Tenant B is signing a brand new agreement, the rent cannot exceed $600/week until the following January 1, twelve full months after the last increase on that specific property.

Note on Exemptions: The only significant exception to the "attached to the property" rule is if the landlord substantially renovates the property, or if the property was previously owner-occupied and is being rented out for the first time. In these specific edge cases, landlords can apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) to seek an exemption to the 12-month rule.

Notice Periods for Rent Increases

When a landlord is legally permitted to increase the rent (i.e., it has been 12 months since the last increase), they must still adhere to strict notice periods depending on the type of tenancy agreement in place.

Periodic Tenancies

For a month-to-month (periodic) lease, the landlord must provide the tenant with a minimum of two months' written notice before the new rental rate takes effect.

Fixed-Term Agreements For a landlord to increase the rent during an active fixed-term lease, the lease agreement itself must explicitly state:

1. That the rent can be increased.
2. How the increase will be calculated (e.g., tied to CPI, or a flat dollar amount).

If the lease does not contain an escalation clause, you cannot increase the rent midway through the fixed term, regardless of how long ago the last increase occurred. The rent is locked in until the lease is renewed.

When the fixed-term lease is expiring and the landlord intends to offer a new fixed-term renewal at a higher rate, they must provide the tenant with two months' written notice prior to the commencement of the new lease.

Mandatory Disclosure of Past Increases

Because the 12-month rule is attached to the physical dwelling, a prospective tenant has an absolute right to know when the rent was last increased.

Under the RTRA Act, landlords and property managers must provide a prospective tenant with written evidence of the date of the last rent increase (such as a previous lease agreement or a rent ledger with redacted personal information) if the tenant requests it before signing the lease.

Failure to provide evidence of the last rent increase, or deliberately providing false documentation, is a penalty offense under Queensland law.

Simplifying QLD Compliance

Navigating the new "attached to the property" legislation makes tracking anniversaries a logistical nightmare, especially across large multi-tenant unit complexes. Landager takes the stress out of compliance by tracking the exact date of every rent increase at the property-level, locking out illegal increases in your ledger and digitally generating mathematically precise, RTA-compliant 2-month notices for your tenants exactly when the law allows.

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2024 Legislative Reform Spotlight: Queensland

The Queensland rental landscape underwent its most significant transformation in a decade throughout 2024. The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 was introduced to rebalance the power dynamic between lessors and tenants in a tight rental market.

The 12-Month Rent Increase "Property Anchor"

Perhaps the most impactful change is the 12-month rent increase "Property Anchor." Section 93 ties the 12-month limit to the physical dwelling. If you purchase a property where rent was increased by a prior owner 4 months ago, you cannot increase it for another 8 months—even for a new tenant. This mandates rigorous due diligence during any real estate acquisition to obtain a clear ledger of previous rent increases.

Minimum Housing and Fee-Free Rent

Also, exemptions for high-value properties regarding bond caps were removed. All residential bonds are now strictly capped at 4 weeks' rent, removing exceptions for properties over $700 per week. Lessors must now offer at least one fee-free method to pay rent to protect tenants from hidden transaction costs or third-party portal fees. Lastly, strict minimum housing standards now actively mandate properties must be weatherproof, structurally sound, free of vermin, damp, and mold, and possess functioning privacy locks on all external entryways prior to the commencement of any tenancy.

Routine Inspections and Maintenance

To further protect tenant quiet enjoyment, routine inspections are strictly capped and notice periods have clear statutory minimums. Landlords and their property managers must act transparently when executing entry notices, documenting visual damage clearly without violating the tenant’s right to home privacy. Retaliatory evictions are closely monitored, and any attempts to terminate an agreement shortly after a tenant requests emergency repairs will be heavily scrutinized by the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) and QCAT.

How Landager Helps

Navigating Queensland’s strict regulatory environment—particularly the 2024 RTRA Act amendments linking rent increases to the property—requires precision. Landager's platform automates compliance for QLD landlords by tracking 12-month rent lock periods, generating perfectly timed Form 11 and Form 12 notices, and ensuring bond lodgments adhere to the new 4-week unified cap. Keep your portfolio legally pristine with integrated RTA guidance.