QLD Rent Increase Laws – What Landlords Need to Know

Queensland’s rental laws have been progressively updated to address the state’s housing issues.

Whether you are a new or existing landlord, you may be surprised to learn that renting out property in Queensland has different rules compared to other states in Australia. Staying up to date with the changes in rental law is necessary to avoid penalties and legal complications.

As expert property managers in Townsville, we have created this guide to help shed light on the essential rent increase laws that landlords need to consider. The information in this guide is relevant as of January 2026, but may be subject to change in the future.

Queensland’s Rent Increase Laws

Rental agreements in Queensland are governed by the Housing Legislation Amendment Act 2021 and the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024.

Queensland’s most recent change in rental law came into effect on 6 June 2024. The biggest amendment to rental legislation from this change involved the banning of rent bidding and the application of the annual rent increase frequency limit to the property, rather than the tenancy.

What this means for landlords:

• Landlords cannot invite or accept offers of rent that are above the advertised amount, even if the tenant is willing to pay a higher amount of rent.
• Landlords cannot collect rent in advance (also applies to a bond) that is worth more than 2 weeks' rent (for periodic agreements and agreements for moveable dwelling premises) or 1 month’s rent for other tenancy agreements.
• Landlords can only raise the rent of a property after a period of 12 months. This applies regardless of whether the property is tenanted during the period or if there is a change in tenants.

As a result of these changes, landlords must now include the date of the last rent increase in the tenancy agreement. This is to provide potential tenants with more clarity about future rental increases. Tenants can also submit a written request for evidence of the day of the last rent increase, which landlords must provide within 14 days.

Exemptions for Rent Increases

Landlords may be exempt from the 12-month rental increase limit if they meet the requirements listed in the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (RTRA Act). In general, property owners and managers are considered exempt if the property is used as community housing where the rent is calculated based on the tenant’s income.

Landlords (or a property manager on behalf of one) can apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) to increase rent during the 12-month period - however, permission will only be granted for cases where the landlord would otherwise face undue hardship. 

Legal Penalties for Rent Increase

It is an offence to increase the rent more than once within a 12-month period - the maximum penalty for non-compliance is 50 units (approximately $8,345 as of January 2026).

Failing to state the date of the last rent increase in a new tenancy agreement carries a maximum penalty of 40 penalty units (approximately $6,676 as of January 2026). 

Landlords that do not provide evidence of the last rent increase within 14 days of a written request from a tenant may also face a maximum penalty of 40 penalty units.

Additional Rental Laws to Consider

Landlords should also exercise caution when adjusting rents; there are laws that protect tenants against excessive rent increases. Tenants can dispute excessive rent increases via the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) Dispute Resolution or the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).

There are also additional changes that apply from 1 May 2025:

• Renters must be offered a fee-free option to submit a rental application.
• Rental property owners and property managers must declare any financial benefits they receive from a particular rent payment method.
• The minimum entry notice period is increased from 24 hours to 48 hours for general tenancies. For rooming accommodation agreements, 24 hours notice is required to clean a room, and 48 hours for any other entry reason.

This is why working with an experienced property manager is so essential - having the right advice to navigate rental laws can make all the difference in maintaining a lucrative property investment.

Townsville Rentals provides property management services in Townsville that saves time and reduces legal risks for owners and investors, while ensuring consistent returns for the rental property. We have over 40 years of experience in the local market and have a flat-fee structure to keep costs manageable - get in touch with our team to find out how we can work together.