Enforcement update
What the RTA's 2026–27 compliance priorities mean for renters
The RTA's current proactive program starts with missing evidence for bond claims, followed by application, fixed-price advertising and 12-month rent-increase compliance.
What changed
The Residential Tenancies Authority published its 2026–27 compliance and enforcement action plan on 10 August 2026. It introduces a proactive program that focuses on a different priority offence each quarter. For July to September 2026, the stated focus is cases where supporting evidence was not provided for a bond claim within the required period.
The remaining program areas are non-compliance with the tenancy-application process, rent not offered at a fixed price and a rent increase within 12 months. These are selected areas for proactive work, not a complete list of tenancy offences and not a promise that every request will produce a particular enforcement outcome.
What a renter should do with this information
Use the priorities as a reminder to preserve evidence early. For a possible unlawful entry, keep the Form 9, delivery record and a factual note of who entered and why. For a bond claim, keep the RTA notice and check whether supporting evidence reaches you within the required period. For a rent increase, put the current-rent date, notice date and proposed start date side by side.
An enforcement request is different from resolving a private tenancy dispute. For bond evidence, the RTA says it can investigate whether evidence was provided within 14 days, but it does not decide through that investigation whether the evidence is persuasive. Conciliation or QCAT may be the pathway for deciding the disputed claim. Ask which process matches the outcome you need rather than assuming an investigation replaces every other deadline.
A practical evidence list
Keep the tenancy agreement, the complete notice or form, the original email or envelope, a dated chronology, relevant photographs, rent ledger and receipts. State facts instead of conclusions: ‘Form 9 received by email at 3:14 pm on Tuesday for entry at 9 am Thursday’ is more useful than ‘the agent never gives enough notice.’
Do not publish personal allegations or identifying documents online. Send information through the official channel requested by the RTA, redact material when appropriate and retain the originals. If housing or a tribunal deadline is at risk, contact QSTARS or obtain legal advice as well as reporting the suspected offence.
Official source checked
RTA — 2026–27 compliance and enforcement plan