On 20 February 2023, Qld Parliament's Community Support and Services Committee released their Report on the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (Rent Freeze) Amendment Bill 2022.

You can find the Report here - Community Support and Services Committee Report

The Committee recommends that the Bill not be passed.

The Rent Freeze Bill seeks to impose a two-year rent freeze on residential property rents throughout Qld (with effect from 1 August 2022) followed by maximum rent increases of two per cent each two-year period thereafter.

In view of the experience in countries such as Ireland, imposing a broad rent freeze does not appear to be a workable solution to the current rental crisis.

In the past, the Qld Deputy Premier has downplayed the need for rent freeze legislation, saying "it was the government’s preference to avoid enforcing new laws to curb the greedy behaviour."

It is clear that some landlords and agents in Qld are forcing excessive rent increases on tenants - far above the current rate of inflation or reasonable cost increases. Landlords would argue that rents in some areas were static for years and the rent increases are just a catch up as rents rise everywhere. This is little comfort for tenants bearing the burden of the rent increases.

Increasing rental housing supply (both private and public) is a solution but will take time, particularly in view of declines in residential investor lending as interest rates increase.

Perhaps the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) needs more teeth in determining what is fair in terms of rent increases. Currently, a tenant in Qld can use the RTA's conciliation service or QCAT to dispute a rent increase.

While the Greens seem destined to lose this round, the failure to exercise restraint by landlords may ultimately lead to some form of temporary government intervention.

February 2023

The content of this publication is intended to provide a general overview on matters which may be of interest. It is not intended to be comprehensive. It does not constitute advice in relation to particular circumstances nor does it constitute the provision of legal services, legal advice or financial product advice.