Minimum Housing Standards for Brisbane Rentals: What's Now Mandatory

Every rental property in Queensland — including every rental in every Brisbane suburb — must meet a set of minimum housing standards, from the day a tenant moves in and for the whole tenancy. These standards are administered statewide by the RTA under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act, and apply to general tenancies, moveable dwellings and rooming accommodation alike. This guide sets out exactly what's required, with no interpretation beyond what the RTA publishes.

What minimum housing standards require

A Brisbane rental property must:

1. Be weatherproof and structurally sound.
2. Be in good repair, with fixtures and fittings (including electrical appliances) that are not likely to cause injury through normal use.
3. Have functioning locks or latches on all external doors and windows that can be reached without a ladder.
4. Be free from vermin, damp and mould — this doesn't apply where the vermin, damp or mould has been caused by the tenant.
5. Include curtains or other window coverings that provide privacy in rooms where a tenant would reasonably expect it, such as bedrooms.
6. Have adequate plumbing and drainage, connected to hot and cold water suitable for drinking.
7. Provide privacy in bathroom areas, with a flushable toilet connected to a sewer, septic tank or other waste disposal system.
8. Have a functioning cook-top, if a kitchen is provided.
9. Include the necessary fixtures for a functional laundry — such as tap fixtures and adequate plumbing — if laundry facilities are provided. A washing machine or other white goods aren't required; these can be supplied by the tenant.

What "weatherproof and structurally sound" actually means

• Weatherproof means the roofing or windows must prevent water from entering the premises when it rains.
• Structurally sound means the building must be safe to live in. Walls, ceiling and roof must be in good condition, and must not be likely to collapse or be affected by significant dampness. Decks and stairs must also be safe and free of rot or defects.

Locks and privacy coverings, in more detail

• Locks or latches are required on all external doors and windows reachable without a ladder. Each property is assessed case-by-case to confirm it's secure and that reasonable safety and security measures are in place.
• Privacy coverings (blinds, curtains, tinted windows, glass frosting) are required in rooms a tenant would reasonably expect privacy in, such as bedrooms — but not required for a window already blocked from outside view by a fence, hedge, tree or similar feature.

Who's responsible for mould, damp or vermin

• If it appears during the tenancy, the tenant must notify the property manager/owner as soon as possible.
• If it's caused by a structural problem — for example mould from a leaking roof, or a termite infestation — it's the property manager/owner's responsibility to fix.
• If it's caused by reasonable use of the property — for example a leaking showerhead, or a stovetop that stops working — it's still the property manager/owner's responsibility.
• If it's caused by the tenant's own actions — for example mould from steam build-up that wasn't ventilated or cleaned — the tenant is responsible for the repair.

Whose responsibility is it, and when?

• The property manager/owner is responsible for ensuring the property meets minimum housing standards at the start of the tenancy.
• If a maintenance issue develops during the tenancy that puts the property out of compliance, the tenant must tell the property manager/owner (or the nominated emergency repair contact).
• It's then the property manager/owner's responsibility to make sure repairs happen in a timely manner.

What happens if a property doesn't meet standards

Any repair needed during a tenancy to bring the property up to minimum housing standards is automatically classified as an emergency repair, and the emergency repair process applies — which means faster timeframes than a routine repair, and the option for the tenant to arrange the repair themselves (up to 4 weeks' rent) if the property manager/owner can't be reached or doesn't act promptly.

If a tenant believes the property didn't meet these standards when they first moved in, the RTA's minimum housing standards fact sheets (for general tenancies and for rooming accommodation) set out the specific options available.

Body corporate properties

If a Brisbane rental sits within a body corporate — which covers a large share of the city's apartment stock — the property must comply with both minimum housing standards and the body corporate's by-laws. In some cases, repairs needed to bring a property up to minimum housing standards are the body corporate's responsibility rather than the property manager/owner's.

Moveable dwellings and shared facilities

For caravan parks and other moveable dwellings, minimum housing standards apply to the dwelling itself and its site — not to shared facilities like communal kitchens, laundries or bathrooms. Those shared facilities must still be in good repair and meet health and safety standards under the Act.

References

• RTA — Minimum housing standards
• RTA — Emergency repairs

This guide summarises rules published by the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) at the time of writing. Live in Brisbane is an independent project and is not affiliated with the RTA, the Queensland Government, or the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management. For advice on your specific situation, contact the RTA directly on 1300 366 311 or visit rta.qld.gov.au.