"Understanding Queensland's Rental Market: Challenges, Proposed Changes, and Tenant Strategies"

 The rental market in Queensland is currently facing significant challenges due to a shortage of available properties. This has resulted in rents rising well above the inflation rate, which is already high. While the state government plans to introduce new legislation to change the rules around rental increases, it is uncertain whether this will alleviate the rental squeeze.

Currently, there is no limit on the amount or percentage by which rents can increase in Queensland. The proposed change would limit rent increases to once every 12 months instead of every six months. However, this may lead to a large annual spike in rents, as there are no maximum limits in place.

The intention behind the government's changes is to create a higher chance of market conditions returning to a more balanced state, where supply and demand are better aligned. However, the only effective ways to reduce the pressure on rents would be to significantly increase the number of available properties or decrease the number of prospective tenants.

While the government has initiated measures to promote the construction of social and affordable housing, it will take years before these properties become available. Advocacy groups, such as Tenants Queensland, are urging the government to identify vacant properties and ensure they are tenanted. They are also calling for strategies to remove properties from the short-term letting market, such as Airbnb, and reintroduce them into the regular rental pool.

Furthermore, the population in south-east Queensland continues to grow at a rate of approximately 2 percent per year due to interstate and overseas migration. This ongoing population growth exacerbates the rental squeeze, making it likely that limiting rent increases to once a year will only delay the inevitable.

In comparison to other states, the ACT imposes a limit on rent rises, capping them at 110 percent of the consumer price index (CPI). This allows landlords to increase rent by up to 10 percent more than the inflation rate. In New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, there is no maximum limit on rent increases, but they can only occur once every 12 months. Western Australia and the Northern Territory allow for rent increases every six months.

During a fixed-term lease agreement, rent cannot be increased unless specifically stated in the rental agreement, and the tenant must be given two months' notice in writing. Under a periodic agreement, two months' written notice is also required for a rent increase.

If a tenant finds themselves on a rental blacklist, the listing technically lasts for three years. However, there have been instances where tenants have not been removed from the list and have had to seek assistance from unions.

To limit rental increases, tenants can try to negotiate with their landlord or property manager if they receive a rent increase notice that they cannot afford. If they believe the increase is excessive, they can apply for a review of the rent increase at the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).