All residential service providers must apply for registration, including operators of privately owned boarding houses, supported accommodation hostels and aged rental accommodation that are not exempt. Some student accommodation and backpacker hostels are exempt.
An individual or a corporation can register as the service provider for a residential service. If you register more than 1 service, complete a separate application for each.
It is illegal to conduct a residential service in unregistered premises. The service and the person providing the service must also be registered.
Penalties up to $20,000 apply to an individual if you fail to register your service.
Penalties up to $100,000 apply to a corporation if you fail to register your service.
Eligibility
To register your residential service, you must be:
- at least 18 years old
- a suitable person, which excludes:
- anyone who has declared bankruptcy or been convicted of a disqualifying offence within the previous 5 years
- a corporation that has gone into receivership or liquidation, or had an executive declare bankruptcy or been convicted of a disqualifying offence, within the previous 5 years.
Requirements
Your premises must be safe and suitable before you can start operating.
To prove that the building meets mandatory requirements, you need to lodge a building compliance notice that has been issued by the local council within the previous 12 months.
For a list of requirements, see the Queensland Development Code.
You must also attach your fire safety document that meets the requirements of a fire safety management plan, as outlined in the Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990, section 104FC or section 9 of the Residential Services (Accreditation) Regulation 2002 for premises that are not budget accommodation under the Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990.
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