How much notice do I need to give to move out in Queensland?
You must give at least 14 days' written notice to move out of a rental property in Queensland. For a fixed-term lease, this notice must be provided so your official move-out date is on or after the lease's end date.
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How it works in practice
Fixed-Term Leases
If you are currently on a fixed-term lease in Queensland, you cannot simply leave before the agreement ends without facing break lease fees. To move out at the end of your contract, you must provide your landlord or property manager with at least 14 days' written notice.
The date you specify for handing back the property must be on or after the official end date listed in your tenancy agreement. If you do not provide this formal notice, your lease will automatically convert into a periodic (rolling) agreement.
Periodic Leases
If your fixed-term lease has already expired and you are now on a periodic agreement, the process is straightforward. You are legally required to provide at least 14 days' written notice before moving out of the property.
This official notice must be submitted using the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) Form 13. You must continue to pay your rent for the entire 14-day notice period, even if you decide to move your belongings out of the home earlier.
Important exceptions
If you need to break a fixed-term lease early, the standard 14-day rule does not apply without financial penalty. You will generally be responsible for paying rent until a new tenant is found, along with reasonable advertising and re-letting costs.
Additionally, if the rental property becomes permanently unlivable due to severe damage (such as a flood or fire), the required notice period drops to just two days.
For cases involving domestic and family violence, Queensland tenancy law allows tenants to end their interest in a lease by providing seven days' notice alongside the appropriate supporting evidence.
What you should do now
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Check your current lease agreement to confirm whether you are on an active fixed-term or a periodic tenancy.
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Download the official 'Notice of intention to leave' (Form 13) directly from the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) website.
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Fill out the form carefully, ensuring your proposed move-out date provides the legally required minimum of 14 days' notice.
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Submit the completed form to your landlord or property manager via your approved communication method, such as email.
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Pay your final rent up to the notice end date and arrange a time to officially return the keys.
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