Minimum housing standards in Queensland

What the standards are for

The standards are intended to ensure rental properties are safe, secure and functional. They interact with repair obligations rather than replacing them, and the precise requirements depend on the accommodation type.

Use the entry condition report and dated photographs to record problems present at the beginning. During the tenancy, report any new issue in writing and explain why it affects safety, security or normal use.

When the property does not comply

Repairs required to bring a rental property up to minimum housing standards are classified as emergency repairs. Follow the emergency contact process, keep the agreement and evidence close, and obtain current advice where the response is delayed.

The standards apply throughout the tenancy

Minimum housing standards applied to new and renewed agreements from 1 September 2023 and to all remaining Queensland tenancies from 1 September 2024. They cover general tenancies, moveable dwellings and rooming accommodation. The premises must comply when the renter moves in and continue to comply during the agreement; passing an initial inspection is not the end of the obligation.

The standards sit alongside the broader duties to provide a property fit to live in and keep it in good repair. A problem can breach more than one obligation. Describe the physical defect and its effect rather than relying only on the phrase 'minimum standards', because the photographs and requested repair still need to show what must be fixed.

Safety, structure and weatherproofing

The building must be weatherproof and structurally sound. Roofing and windows should prevent rain entering; walls, ceilings, roof, stairs and decks must be safe and not likely to collapse or be undermined by serious dampness, rot or defects. Fixtures and supplied appliances must be in good repair and not likely to injure someone through ordinary use.

Record active leaks, swelling, movement, corrosion or unsafe edges with context: where the defect is, weather conditions, dimensions and how use is affected. For a developing structural or electrical risk, do not wait for the next routine inspection. Report it immediately and identify any urgent safety concern so the managing party can assess the correct repair response.

Security, privacy and essential facilities

Accessible external doors and windows need functioning locks or latches. Rooms where privacy is reasonably expected, such as bedrooms, need a suitable covering unless outside screening already prevents a view. The property also needs adequate plumbing and drainage, hot and cold drinking-quality water, bathroom privacy and a flushable toilet connected to an appropriate waste system.

If a kitchen is provided, the cooktop must function. If laundry facilities are provided, the necessary taps and plumbing must work, although the owner does not have to supply a washing machine merely because there is a laundry area. Check what is actually included in the agreement and entry report when an appliance or facility is disputed.

Use the entry report as your starting record

Inspect every standard when moving in, not only paint and cleanliness. Test accessible locks and latches, hot water, taps, drainage, cooktop and supplied appliances. Look for damp, mould, vermin evidence, unsafe stairs and gaps where weather enters. Add clear comments to the entry condition report and return it within the required time with indexed photographs.

If the advertised or inspected property appears not to meet the standards before an agreement begins, the RTA provides a reporting option as well as information about renter remedies. Do not assume signing the agreement waives the standards. Get advice about the available route before refusing possession, arranging work or attempting to end an agreement.

A standards repair is treated as an emergency

During a tenancy, a repair needed to bring the property up to minimum housing standards is classified as an emergency repair. Notify the property manager, owner or nominated emergency repair contact and follow the emergency process. State which standard is affected, attach evidence and keep the contact attempts; the classification does not remove the need for a careful record.

Tenant-arranged emergency work has limits and conditions, including contact efforts, a suitably qualified repairer and a statutory spending cap. Do not treat the standards as a general licence to renovate. If the response is delayed or the work could be extensive, seek RTA or QSTARS guidance about an urgent QCAT repair order or other appropriate step.

Mould, vermin and body corporate complications

The premises must be free from vermin, damp and mould unless the problem was caused by the renter. Responsibility turns on cause. A roof leak, failed shower or termite entry may point to the property; a problem caused by how the premises were used may point elsewhere. Report it early, preserve photographs and ask for the underlying defect to be investigated rather than arguing from appearance alone.

In a body corporate property, both the tenancy standards and applicable by-laws matter, and some building repairs may be the body's responsibility. That division does not make the renter responsible for coordinating every party. Keep the agent informed, allow lawful access and ask for a written plan showing who is arranging the work and when.