Message from RTA - Changes to tenancy legislation - Effective 1 July 2009

New tenancy legislation was passed by Parliament in December 2008.

The aim of the new law is to ensure that legislation keeps pace with changes in the rental market and continues to meet the needs of Queenslanders. This has been achieved by combining the Residential Tenancies Act 1994 and the Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002 and updating many of the existing provisions into the new Residential Tenancies and Rooming (Accommodation) Act 2008.

The new Act will commence from 1 July 2009. An extensive community education and information campaign will be carried out by the RTA ahead of the start of the new Act to ensure the new changes are understood.

Changes in the new Act include significant added protection for both tenants and lessors.

For example, the frequency of rent increases is limited to six monthly, rent bidding is outlawed and the notice period to terminate a tenancy at the end of a fixed term without grounds has increased from two weeks to two months. These are significant changes providing tenants with an increased level of protection in the Queensland rental market.

The rights of lessors have also been improved with the inclusion of new grounds of entry to rental properties to check on repairs and on whether significant breaches have been remedied.

For the first time, tenancy legislation will cover currently exempt forms of room-only style accommodation such as employer provided and government funded accommodation.

Changes to legislation will also require university on-campus accommodation providers to lodge bonds with the RTA.

Yours in property!