Queensland Rights and Obligations during Tenancy

Landlords and tenants have various rights and obligations during the tenancy agreement. These include paying for utilities, repairs and maintenance, and security.

What can I do if the other party breaches a term of the agreement?

If the landlord or tenant breaches a term of the residential tenancy agreement, then you can give a Form 11: Notice to Remedy Breach. Form 11 can be used:

• by the landlord if the tenant breaches any term of the tenancy agreement and the tenant has not fixed the breach
• by the landlord if the rent becomes 7 or more days overdue
• by the tenant if the landlord breaches any term of the tenancy agreement and the landlord has not fixed the breached

In the Form 11, the landlord or tenant can nominate a period within which the other party must fix the breach. This period must be at least 7 days. If the tenant or landlord does not fix the breach within nominated period, then the party giving the Form 11 can terminate the tenancy agreement. See our Queensland Ending the Tenancy page for more information about termination.

Who is responsible for utility fees and other charges?

Various different charges arise during the tenancy for the premises. Generally, tenants pay for utilities like water that are separately metered for their use. Landlords pay for most other charges like land taxes and council rates.

Read more about Fees and Charges

What rights and obligations do tenants have?

Throughout the tenancy the tenant has a number of rights owed to them by the landlord, as well as various obligations they must fulfil. For example, the tenant has the right to enjoy the rented premises without any interference by the landlord. The tenant is also under an obligation to keep the premises clean and to notify the landlord of any damage.

Read more about Tenants’ Rights and Obligations

What are the landlord’s obligations?

At the beginning of the tenancy and throughout the landlord has a number of obligations that they must fulfil. For example, the premises must be reasonably clean at the start of tenancy and the landlord must keep the premises and any inclusions in good repair during the tenancy.

Read more about Landlord’s Obligations

When can the landlord enter the premises?

During the tenancy the landlord may need to enter the premises for a particular reason. Importantly, landlords can only enter under a certain number of circumstances. If the tenant consents, the landlord can enter at any time. If the tenant does not consent, then the landlord can only enter for specific reasons like an emergency or to conduct repairs.

Read more about the Landlord’s Rights to Enter the Premises

Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance?

Landlords are under a general obligation to provide and maintain the premises in a good state of repair throughout the tenancy. Therefore it is generally the landlord’s responsibility to conduct or arrange for repairs. In the case of emergency repairs, the tenant can only conduct repairs themselves if they cannot contact the landlord or their nominated repairer.

Read more about Repairs and Maintenance

When can alterations or additions be made to the premises?

Before the tenant installs any fixtures or makes any structural alterations to the premises, they must get the landlord’s consent. The landlord can only refuse to give consent if it is reasonable to do so. For example, if the proposed alteration involves structural changes to the premises.

Read more about Alterations and Additions

Who is responsible for security?

The landlord is responsible for providing and maintaining the premises at a reasonably secure standard. Each of the tenants should be given a key for the premises at no extra charge at the beginning of the premises. Generally, if the locks need to be changed by the landlord or tenant they should get the consent of the other party.

Read more about Security and Locks

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