Talking Tenancies

A property becomes unliveable when it:  is fully, or partially, destroyed or  can no longer be used lawfully as a residence   It’s important to consider the liveability of a property on a case-by-case basis. When a property becomes unlivable, there are usually two options – to end the tenancy or to continue the tenancy.  In this episode of Talking Tenancies, we discuss what can happen when a renta...

Lessors are allowed to pass on the full water consumption charges (including bulk water charges) to tenants provided they meet all the minimum criteria.  At the start of the tenancy agreement, the managing party and tenant should negotiate arrangements for water charging and frequency of charges.  In this episode of Talking Tenancies, we explore water charges and leaks in a rental property and dis...

Regular and open communication between parties in a tenancy is key to preventing disputes. If there is a dispute, it is best to be proactive, respectful and communicate clearly while negotiating and finding a resolution. Make sure you understand your rights and responsibilities under Queensland tenancy laws, and share information and knowledge with each other to work together.  In this week’s epis...

Tenants usually pay for services such as electricity, gas, phone and internet when renting a property. They may also be charged for water in some cases (conditions apply). In this episode of Talking Tenancies, we discuss the charges and responsibilities that apply to utilities in a rental property with Acting Customer Experience Team Leader, Jill Davidson.

Smoke alarms save lives. Reports have found that the risk of death in a house fire is reduced by more than half if properly maintained smoke alarms are installed. In this week’s episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast, we discuss the importance of smoke alarm maintenance and safety for tenants and managing parties with Senior Support Officer, Sarah Halligan.

When a rental property is for sale while it is occupied by a tenant, there are several scenarios that can take place, so it’s important to be informed on rights and responsibilities as a tenant and a property owner/manager.  In this week’s episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast, we discuss what is required from all parties when a rental property is for sale with Matt Sturgess from Customer Exper...

Sharing a tenancy or a rental property is a popular way to keep living expenses affordable. While this can be in the form of sub-letting or share housing, they can be vastly different to each other and may affect your rights and responsibilities under the legislation.  In this week’s episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast, we discuss the differences between sub-letting and share housing  with Ji...

When tenancy disputes occur, the RTA encourages all parties to try to resolve disagreements by talking to each other. Often disputes arise when someone does not meet the terms of the tenancy agreement. In this week’s episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast, we discuss the dispute resolution process with Shae Francis from Customer Experience at the RTA.

When it comes time to move out and vacate a rental property, it’s a great idea to make a checklist and follow a step-by-step process to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible. In this week’s episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast, we discuss vacating a property with Sarah Halligan from Customer Experience at the RTA.

A breach of the tenancy agreement is when the property manager/owner or tenant fails to comply with any part of the agreement. In this episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast, we discuss breach notices with Sam Galer from the RTA.

You’ve been on the hunt for your dream rental and finally found the right home for you.  After the inspection, you love it and want to take steps to rent it – so what happens next? In this episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast, we discuss starting a tenancy with Cassandra Chow from the RTA.

A managing part is responsible for ensuring the property is fit to live in and in a good state of repair. A tenant is responsible for notifying their managing party in a timely manner if repairs are needed. Our expert from the RTA is Kimberley Galumalemana from the Quality and Training team.

In this episode, we look at what happens when a tenant leaves the property unexpectedly. It may be that a sole tenant or co-tenant has died, the property has been abandoned, or the tenant is unable to return to the property. Our expert from the RTA is Antonella Spatola from the Dispute Resolution team.

RTA Support Officer Ben Gerwald assists in taking an in-depth look at routine inspections, which can lead to some tricky conversations between parties.

In this episode we take a look at rental bonds and the process around lodgement, refunds, disputes, increases and how the RTA supports tenants and property owners and managers throughout the life cycle of a bond. Our RTA expert in this episode is Matt Sturgess, Manager, Customer Experience.

Gardens & Maintenance during a tenancy can cause headaches for both tenants and property owners or managers if there is not clarity around responsibilities. In this episode we get into the nitty gritty of gardens and maintenance and answer some of the frequency asked questions we receive. Our RTA Expert in this episode is Sam Galer - Manager - Customer Experience.

The RTA empowers people across the state to navigate the rental market and provides a range of other services to ensure renting works for everyone. In this episode of Talking Tenancies we look at the RTA’s role in renting in Queensland with Acting Director – Customer Experience, Natalie Townsend.   

A rental property is a tenant’s home. During a tenancy, the property manager or owner may need to enter for various reasons, for example to conduct a general inspection, to carry out repairs or allow potential tenants or buyers to view the property. However, under all circumstances, it is important to respect the tenant’s privacy and ensure their consent or permission for entry has been granted in...

In this episode we take a look at how bond money is managed at the RTA and where your bond money goes once it is lodged. Our expert from the RTA is Eric Stow, Financial Controller.

The Residential Tenancies Authority – also known as the RTA is bringing you a podcast that covers everything you could possibly want to know about renting in Queensland. You’ll hear from industry experts and RTA staff who assist Queenslanders every day when it comes to bond management, dispute resolution, investigations and prosecutions, support and education services. If you are a tenant or a pro...