Talking Tenancies

Mould is something every Queenslander is familiar with, as our warm and wet weather is a key driver in the production of mould at different times of the year.  Mould may grow indoors in wet or moist areas that lack adequate ventilation, including walls or wallpaper, ceilings, bathroom tiles, carpets, insulation material and wood. If left, mould can cause damage to a home and belongings, and can al...

Queensland tenancy laws are changing from 1 October 2022, the new laws provide tenants, property managers and owners with a greater number of reasons to end a tenancy, introduces a framework for negotiating renting with pets, repair orders as well as a few other amendments.   In this episode, we’ll be specifically focusing on the tenancy law changes around the introduction of repair orders and oth...

There’s a lot to remember when it comes to renting a property and it can be quite overwhelming if you’ve never done it before, trying to find your way on your own. Renting rules and legislation can vary quite a lot state to state, so first time renting in a different state also has its own challenges. We can help you to understand your rights and responsibilities in all stages of the tenancy and p...

Queensland tenancy laws are changing from 1 October 2022, the new laws provide tenants, property managers and owners with a greater number of reasons to end a tenancy, introduces a framework for negotiating renting with pets, repair orders as well as a few other amendments.    In this episode, we’ll be focusing on the tenancy law changes around the new framework that’s in place to help tenants and...

Queensland tenancy laws have changed from 1 October 2022 providing property managers, owners and tenants with a greater number of reasons to end a tenancy, the introduction of a framework for negotiating renting with pets, repair orders as well as a few other amendments.    In this episode, we’ll focus specifically on the tenancy law changes around ending a tenancy. RTA's expert, Lynn Smith helps...

Queensland tenancy laws are changing from 1 October 2022, the new laws provide tenants, property managers and owners with a greater number of reasons to end a tenancy, a framework for negotiating renting with pets and repair orders as well as a few other amendments.    In this episode, we’ll be providing an overview of the new tenancy laws taking effect from 1 October 2022. There will be separate...

For a term bandied around a lot, the term wear and tear claims a fair share of the debate over damage to rented properties.  When you put fair in front of the wear and tear part the interpretation becomes even more complex.  In this episode, we aim to help clarify exactly what it is and how it applies to a tenancy with the RTA's Marc Fidler.

Whether renting or not, neighbours can sometimes impact the quiet enjoyment of our living environment – this can stem from noise, smoking, parking, rubbish or overgrown properties. In this episode, we aim to give you some tips on how to live in harmony with your neighbours and what you can do when it all gets a bit too much to handle. Our RTA expert in this episode is Jill Davidson.

The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the Act) contains the rules covering rooming accommodation such as boarding houses, hostels, and off-campus student accommodation in Queensland. In this episode of Talking Tenancies, the RTA's Lynn Smith helps us to understand the differences when it comes to rooming accommodation. 

At different stages of a tenancy, a property manager/owner or prospective buyer/tenant may want to take photos inside and outside of the rental property for various reasons, such as to advertise a property for sale or re-let, or during inspections for records and as supporting evidence for formal documentation like entry and exit condition reports. In this episode of Talking Tenancies, the RTA's C...

Sometimes during the life of a tenancy, disagreements may occur between the parties involved. The RTA is here to help all parties in an impartial way, whilst ensuring all obligations under the legislation are met through our dispute resolution service. If an agreement cannot be reached, this is where there is the option of taking the matter to the Queensland Civil Administrative Tribunal – QCAT. I...

In this episode we will bust some myths and misconceptions to help get a greater understanding of the RTA’s role and what we do to support the Queensland rental sector with the RTA's Rowan Bayliss.

When you contact us at the RTA, there is some information you can gather to make sure we can provide the right information for your situation and the support you need. Being prepared before picking up the phone and understanding the RTA’s role and responsibilities can go a long way to help us guide you to a better outcome.  In this episode of Talking Tenancies, we discuss ways you can take action...

Whether students are renting in purpose-built student accommodation, sharing a house with others or going it alone in a unit, it’s important they understand their tenancy rights and responsibilities.    For some students, this may be their first time away from home and renting on their own, or their first time in Australia. Students are encouraged to read their agreement and ask questions to clari...

A tenancy agreement is a legally binding, written agreement between a tenant and a managing party. An agreement must be used even if it is between family or friends.  RTA's Helen Doogan joins us to talk about the different agreements and their importance. 

The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the Act) applies to renting a place to live in Queensland – including tenancy agreements for caravans, caravan sites, houseboats, rented manufactured homes and moveable dwellings for residential purposes.  In this episode with RTA's Blair Lawson, we talk about the key differences in caravan and moveable dwelling tenancies. 

As the end of the year rapidly approaches, it can be easy to get carried away during the festive season with celebrations and commitments. In this episode, we have some tips and reminders to help tenants plan for a happy, safe secure and enjoyable holiday season.  In this episode with RTA's Ben Gerwald, we talk about how to enjoy this festive season with peace of mind as a tenant in Queensland. 

Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, and domestic and family violence is never acceptable.   Domestic and family violence (DFV) occurs when one person in an intimate personal, family or informal carer relationship uses violence or abuse to maintain power and control over the other person.  Living with DFV can have a devastating impact on a person’s autonomy, independence, wellbeing and safety. ...

The Residential Tenancies Authority urges Queensland tenants to remain vigilant and be alert when searching for their next rental property.  Common scams can include online classified ads or social media posts from people pretending to be real property managers or owners that mislead tenants into paying deposits or bonds for rental properties that are sometimes fake or unavailable addresses. These...

Queensland experiences some of Australia’s most extreme weather events each year. Bushfire season typically begins in July and ends in October and can extend through to February, but with varying climate conditions, bushfires can occur anytime and anywhere.   In this episode of Talking Tenancies, Andison Lai from the RTA discusses 4 key actions you can take to stay safe this bushfire season.

Queenslanders are no strangers to cyclones and severe storms that can produce hail, flooding rains, lightning, winds greater than 200km/h and storm surge. They are often unpredictable and can potentially cause major damage to property. It’s important to be prepared and aware to ensure your safety through storm season. Our RTA expert for this episode is Marc Fidler from RTA's Customer Experience te...

Queensland is known for its scorching summers and so keeping cool is important when the heat is on. In the latest episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast we discuss maintaining and repairing air conditioners and pools to ensure a comfortable summer for both tenants and managing parties. Our RTA expert for this episode is Stephen Watson from RTA's Customer Experience team.  

The amount of rent, and how it should be paid, must be stated in the tenancy agreement. There are rules for rent increases and in some circumstances the rent may be decreased. There are also rules about the non-payment of rent.  In this episode of Talking Tenancies, we delve into the tricky questions we receive on a regular basis when it comes to your rights on rent with the RTA’s Peggy McGuinness...

Special terms can be added to a general tenancy agreement or rooming accommodation agreement to provide guidance during the tenancy on things such as keeping pets, water charging and pool maintenance.  In this episode of Talking Tenancies, we explore special terms on a tenancy agreement with Adam Busato from the RTA.

Apartment and body corporate living has its own challenges and rewards. Living in close proximity to others calls for greater consideration and sensitivity, but being part of a tight-knit community can be greatly rewarding.  In this week’s episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast, we discuss high density unit living with Sarah Halligan and Andison Lai and what you need to consider when renting a u...