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.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general legal information for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent increase laws in Queensland have recently undergone massive overhauls. Always consult the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) or a legal professional for advice specific to your situation. Information last verified: March 2026.

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.

Back to Queensland Landlord-Tenant Laws Overview.