Your responsibilities as a tenant
Your responsibilities are outlined in the following documents you received at sign-up:
- Form 18c - State Tenancy Agreement
- Part 1 - Schedule
- Part 2 - Standard Terms
- Form 17a - Information Statement
Following are brief descriptions of those responsibilities which concern tenants most. (The full descriptions are given in other sections of this kit.)
Paying rent
You are responsible for paying your rent and keeping your account up-to-date.
Providing information
You must advise the department of any changes to your household, income or assets and any changes in your circumstances within 28 days of the change occurring (see What do I tell the department?).
Inspections
Upon the department's request, you must provide access for maintenance and inspections of your home.
Peaceful enjoyment
You must ensure your household members do not disturb the peace, comfort and privacy of your neighbours. You are responsible for the behaviour of your visitors.
Maintenance
You must keep your home, gardens and yard in a neat and tidy condition including:
- keeping them free from vermin and rubbish, and
- mowing lawns.
The department will only do repairs resulting from 'fair wear and tear'. Other repairs to your home may be done by the department but will be charged to your account (see Maintenance).
Improvements to your home
You must not add, change or remove any part of your home without first obtaining the department's permission. Some rental dwellings built before 1990 may have materials which contain asbestos. Any drilling, sanding or nailing etc may be hazardous to the health of occupants (see Home Improvements).
Damage
You must pay for any damage to your home caused by household members or visitors to your home. You must notify the department of this damage immediately as well as damage that occurs from fire, natural disaster, storm or vandalism.
The department's obligations are listed according to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. The department is to:
- ensure there are no legal impediments to the tenant occupying the house;
- ensure the tenant has vacant possession on the day he/she is entitled to occupy the premises;
- take reasonable steps to ensure the tenant has 'quiet enjoyment' of the premises;
- not interfere with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of the tenant using the premises;
- provide premises and inclusions that are clean, in good repair and fit for the tenant to live in;
- maintain the premises in a way that the premises remain fit for the tenant to live in;
- maintain the premises and inclusions in good repair and keep common areas clean; and
- ensure any law dealing with issues about the health and safety of persons using or entering the premises is complied with.
The tenant's obligations are listed according to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. The tenant is to:
- keep the premises and inclusions clean, considering their condition at the start of the tenancy;
- not maliciously damage or allow someone else to maliciously damage, the premises or inclusions;
- not use the premises for illegal purposes;
- not cause a nuisance by the use of the premises;
- not interfere with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of a neighbour; and
- leave the premises and inclusions, as far as possible, in the same condition they were in at the start of the tenancy (fair wear and tear excepted).
Further information:
If you would like further information on the rights and responsibilities of tenants or the department under the State Tenancy Agreement, contact your nearest Housing Service Centre.
Tenants may also access information on their rights and responsibilities through the Residential Tenancies Authority, Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service and the Tenants' Union of Queensland.