Changes to Queensland tenancy laws took effect on 1st July 2009. Under the new Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 residential tenants must be given at least 2 months Notice to Leave if they are being asked to leave rental premises without grounds (without reason) .
Prior to the commencement of the new laws in July 2009 Queensland tenants could be given as little as 2 weeks notice to leave at the end of a fixed term tenancy agreement. This was clearly an unreasonable time frame for tenants to find new accommodation, move, and find money to pay a new bond.
‘Many of the changes to the Act are about bringing back a fair playing field between tenants and lessors, with the increased “without ground” notice period the most significant’, said Tenants’ Union of Queensland (TUQ) spokesperson Ms Penny Carr.
Changes to the laws are the culmination of processes commenced in 2005, which initially reviewed tenancy laws covering room-only accommodation and proceeded to review legislation covering general residential tenancies. The new Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 was passed in late 2008 and when it commenced on 1st July 2009 it replaced the Residential Tenancies Act 1994 and the Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002 .
The TUQ invites any tenant or resident seeking information or advice to contact us on our free telephone advice service on 1300 744 263 between 9am- 4pm Mon-Fri and 7pm on Tues & Wed.
Download a summary of the changes here.
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