Talking Tenancies

Domestic and family violence protections

Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, and domestic and family violence is never acceptable.  

Domestic and family violence (DFV) occurs when one person in an intimate personal, family or informal carer relationship uses violence or abuse to maintain power and control over the other person. 

Living with DFV can have a devastating impact on a person’s autonomy, independence, wellbeing and safety. 

In this episode with RTA's Sam Galer, we'll talk about the updated renting laws that may be able to help someone who is experiencing DFV in a rental property to leave the situation quickly, or feel safer in their home. 

 

How to protect yourself from rental scams

The Residential Tenancies Authority urges Queensland tenants to remain vigilant and be alert when searching for their next rental property. 

Common scams can include online classified ads or social media posts from people pretending to be real property managers or owners that mislead tenants into paying deposits or bonds for rental properties that are sometimes fake or unavailable addresses. These unfortunate situations leave prospective tenants in the challenging position of trying to recover their losses which can be a long and drawn out process.    

In this episode, RTA’s Marc Fidler takes us through some tips on how to protect yourself from a rental scam.

Bushfire season

Queensland experiences some of Australia’s most extreme weather events each year. Bushfire season typically begins in July and ends in October and can extend through to February, but with varying climate conditions, bushfires can occur anytime and anywhere.  

In this episode of Talking Tenancies, Andison Lai from the RTA discusses 4 key actions you can take to stay safe this bushfire season.

Storms, cyclones and flooding

Queenslanders are no strangers to cyclones and severe storms that can produce hail, flooding rains, lightning, winds greater than 200km/h and storm surge. They are often unpredictable and can potentially cause major damage to property. It’s important to be prepared and aware to ensure your safety through storm season. Our RTA expert for this episode is Marc Fidler from RTA's Customer Experience team.

Keep your cool with airconditioning and pools

Queensland is known for its scorching summers and so keeping cool is important when the heat is on. In the latest episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast we discuss maintaining and repairing air conditioners and pools to ensure a comfortable summer for both tenants and managing parties. Our RTA expert for this episode is Stephen Watson from RTA's Customer Experience team.

 

Rights on rent

The amount of rent, and how it should be paid, must be stated in the tenancy agreement. There are rules for rent increases and in some circumstances the rent may be decreased. There are also rules about the non-payment of rent. 

In this episode of Talking Tenancies, we delve into the tricky questions we receive on a regular basis when it comes to your rights on rent with the RTA’s Peggy McGuinness.

Special terms

Special terms can be added to a general tenancy agreement or rooming accommodation agreement to provide guidance during the tenancy on things such as keeping pets, water charging and pool maintenance. 

In this episode of Talking Tenancies, we explore special terms on a tenancy agreement with Adam Busato from the RTA.

High density unit living

Apartment and body corporate living has its own challenges and rewards. Living in close proximity to others calls for greater consideration and sensitivity, but being part of a tight-knit community can be greatly rewarding. 

In this week’s episode of the Talking Tenancies podcast, we discuss high density unit living with Sarah Halligan and Andison Lai and what you need to consider when renting a unit, apartment or townhouse in a complex.

When a property becomes unliveable

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 rental property becomes damaged or destroyed  with RTA Conciliator Ben Gerwald.

Water charges and leaks

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 discuss the rights and responsibilities of tenants and managing parties with RTA Customer Experience Acting Team Leader Michaela Alletsee.