Mould in Rental Property QLD
Dealing with mould in a Queensland rental? Here's what tenants and landlords need to know about responsibilities, rights, and getting the problem fixed.
Who Is Responsible for Mould in a QLD Rental?
Under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (Qld), the answer depends on what caused the mould.
Landlord Responsibility
- •Structural issues causing moisture
- •Leaking roofs, pipes, or plumbing
- •Inadequate ventilation (design flaw)
- •Rising damp or subfloor moisture
- •Pre-existing mould at move-in
Tenant Responsibility
- •Not using exhaust fans when available
- •Not reporting leaks or moisture promptly
- •Blocking ventilation openings
- •Drying clothes indoors without ventilation
- •Failing to maintain reasonable cleanliness
Steps for Tenants
- Document everything — take photos and note the date you first discovered the mould.
- Submit a maintenance request — lodge a formal written request with your property manager or landlord immediately.
- Allow reasonable time — the landlord must respond within a reasonable timeframe (typically 7 days for non-emergency repairs).
- Escalate if needed — if no action is taken, contact the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) for dispute resolution.
- Get a professional assessment — an independent mould inspection report strengthens your case.
Steps for Landlords
- Respond promptly — acknowledge the issue and arrange an inspection within 7 days.
- Engage professionals — use qualified mould removal specialists to assess and remediate.
- Fix the root cause — removing mould without addressing the moisture source means it will return.
- Keep records — document all actions taken, quotes received, and work completed.
Need Help?
Whether you're a tenant or landlord, getting a professional mould inspection provides clarity on the cause and extent of the problem. This helps determine responsibility and the best path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
A landlord can only charge the tenant for mould removal if the mould was clearly caused by the tenant’s actions or negligence — such as consistently not using exhaust fans, blocking ventilation, or failing to report a leak. If the mould is caused by a building defect, structural issue, or maintenance problem that’s the landlord’s responsibility, the landlord must cover the remediation costs. Disputes can be resolved through the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) in Queensland.
No. Queensland tenancy law does not allow tenants to withhold rent, even if there is a mould problem. The proper process is to lodge a formal maintenance request with the landlord or property manager, allow reasonable time for a response (typically 7 days for non-emergency repairs), and if no action is taken, contact the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) for dispute resolution. Withholding rent can result in a breach notice against the tenant, regardless of the mould situation.
Under Queensland’s Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, responsibility depends on the cause. Landlords are generally responsible when mould results from structural issues, plumbing leaks, inadequate ventilation design, rising damp, or pre-existing conditions. Tenants may bear responsibility when mould results from not using available exhaust fans, not reporting leaks promptly, blocking ventilation, drying clothes indoors without ventilation, or failing to maintain reasonable cleanliness. An independent professional mould inspection can help establish the cause and clarify responsibility.