Tenant Rights
Queensland Rental Law Changes September 2025: Complete Guide for Tenants
Bondinator Team· Content Team
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Queensland's new Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Regulation 2025 commenced on September 1, implementing significant privacy protections and application process reforms that affect every rental transaction in the state.
The new regulation, made on July 31, 2025, delivers the final phase of Queensland's comprehensive rental law overhaul. The most significant changes include:
From January 1, 2026, all residential landlords must use the new standardised Form A1 for rental applications. Each prospective tenant must complete a separate form, and applicants can now indicate their preferred tenancy duration. The standardised approach aims to eliminate discriminatory application practices and create consistency across the rental market.
Property owners and managers now face strict limitations on personal information collection. They can only collect photographs of personal belongings and access tenant information for assessing rental suitability or managing existing tenancies. Information must be securely stored and destroyed within three months for unsuccessful applicants.
New provisions enable tenants experiencing domestic abuse to change locks, end tenancies immediately, or provide just seven days' notice for temporary crisis accommodation. QCAT can now make orders preventing termination if domestic violence caused the breach and can create new tenancy agreements in victims' names only.
The application form changes mean you'll need to provide separate applications for each person who will be listed on the lease. However, you now have stronger privacy rights - landlords cannot ask about previous tribunal disputes, bond claim history, or detailed bank statements.
Landlords not renewing fixed-term tenancies must now provide 60 days' notice instead of 28 days, giving tenants more time to find alternative accommodation. New termination grounds include situations where landlords enter sales agency agreements with registered agents.
From September 1, landlords are responsible for all rates and charges not based on consumption levels, including water supply charges. This change clarifies cost responsibilities and reduces unexpected tenant expenses.
With these expanded tenant rights comes increased importance of proper documentation. Bondinator's comprehensive evidence collection becomes even more valuable under the new regulatory framework. Document property conditions at move-in and exit with timestamped photos to protect against unfair bond claims under the enhanced privacy and application standards.
The new regulations strengthen tenant protections while requiring more systematic documentation. Use Bondinator to capture conditions and create professional reports that ensure compliance with Queensland's enhanced rental framework.