Queensland Residential Tenancy Laws: 2026 Landlord's Guide

Renting residential property in Queensland is strictly governed by the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (RTRA Act). Following major reforms in 2024, the Queensland rental market in 2026 operates under stabilized rules that prioritize tenant security through property-tied rent controls and unified bond caps.

Key Queensland Rental Laws at a Glance

Rental Bonds

Bond rules in Queensland are unified across all general tenancies. A landlord or property manager can require a maximum bond equivalent to four weeks' rent.

This 4-week limit applies to all properties, regardless of the weekly rent amount. All bonds must be formally lodged with the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) within 10 days of receipt.

Rent Increases (Property-Tied Control)

Queensland maintains strict rent increase regulations. Rent can only be increased once every 12 months.

Critically, this 12-month limit is attached to the property, not the specific tenancy agreement. If a property is re-let within 12 months of the last increase, the rent cannot be raised for the incoming tenant. Landlords must provide tenants with evidence of the date of the last rent increase if requested.

When increasing rent during an ongoing periodic or fixed-term lease (if the lease allows it), landlords must provide a minimum of two months' written notice using the official RTA form.

Terminating a Tenancy (Evictions)

Queensland does not allow "without grounds" evictions for periodic agreements. To end a periodic tenancy, a landlord must have a legally recognized reason (e.g., selling the property, owner moving in) and provide the requisite 2-month notice.

For breaches of the agreement:

• Non-payment: Once the tenant is at least 7 days in arrears, the landlord may serve a Notice to Remedy Breach (7-day remedy period). If uncured, a 7-day Notice to Leave can be issued.
• General Breaches: 7-day Notice to Remedy Breach, followed by a 14-day Notice to Leave if uncured.
• End of Fixed-Term: A Notice to Leave for the end of a fixed-term agreement must be issued at least 2 months before the lease end date.

Maintenance and Minimum Housing Standards

All rental properties must meet prescribed Minimum Housing Standards throughout the tenancy. This includes being weatherproof, structurally sound, secure, and free from vermin/mold. Failure to meet these standards allows tenants to arrange emergency repairs up to the value of 4 weeks' rent.

Late Fees are Illegal

It is an offense under the RTRA Act to charge a tenant a "late fee" or penalty for late rent. Landlords can only seek compensation for actual financial losses (e.g., bank dishonor fees) through the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).

How Landager Helps

Landager's platform automates compliance for QLD landlords by tracking 12-month rent lock periods tied to the property, generating perfectly timed Form 11 and Form 12 notices, and ensuring bond lodgments adhere to the 4-week unified cap.