In a move which brings Queensland in line with States such as Victoria and South Australia, Queensland landlords are to be limited to varying rent on a residential rental property once in each 12 month period.

The reforms are low impact as many landlords use 12 month leases and do not elect to include a rent increase provision in the lease. For any such landlords, the reforms should have no impact.

For landlords who have generally increased rents on a six monthly basis, they will now only be entitled to do so once per year. The reforms should therefore slow the rate of rent increases on these properties.

Limiting rent increases in this manner falls far short of the Greens' Rent Freeze Bill currently before Queensland Parliament. That Bill seeks to impose a two-year rent freeze on residential property rents throughout Queensland (with effect from 1 August 2022) followed by maximum rent increases of two per cent each two-year period thereafter. Queensland Parliament's Community Support and Services Committee has recommended against passing this Bill.

After floating the prospect of some form of rent cap, the Queensland Premier has walked back on this suggestion, preferring for the moment to merely restrict the timing of rent increases.

Further details of these changes are still to be released. It also remains to be seen if there will be any unintended consequences of the reforms.

Rent stabilisation to give Queenslanders who rent a fair go

March 2023

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