Granny Flats for Rent in Queensland

If you’re a Queensland homeowner with a granny flat or second dwelling, keep reading to find out how you can now rent out your granny flat, and contribute to a solution for the current rental crisis.

In an effort to provide more affordable housing opportunities to Queenslanders, homeowners will be encouraged by the Queensland Government to rent out secondary dwellings such as granny flats to tenants that are not immediate family members. This means that Queensland property owners can have multiple leases on the same lot that are compliant under the Residential Tenancies Act.

Traditionally, homeowners with granny flats that have been purpose built for family members, have been restricted from renting these out to anyone other than an immediate family member. These restrictions will be removed for the next three years under an emergency planning change expected to house thousands of Queenslanders. 

Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Planning, Steven Miles, responds by stating, “It just makes sense to allow existing accommodation to be occupied by someone other than a relative to provide more affordable accommodation for Queenslanders.”

This new development allows homeowners to earn rent, consequently, easing the pressure to meet the rising cost of living for that household. The cost of living is the amount of money required to afford the basic necessities of life including food, housing, transport, healthcare, utilities and taxes. Expatistan is a collaborative database that estimates the current cost of living for a single person in Australia is $3,700 per month. This cost could be eased for many Queensland households who decide to list their secondary dwelling for rent. If you are curious about what price you could list your granny flat for, contact our team for a free rental appraisal.

Queenslanders can be moved into underutilized granny flats much more quickly than the building industry can construct new properties, according to Mr Miles. This revelation comes after a QBCC report that they expect it to take some time before the industry gets back to its pre-pandemic supply and operating rhythm. In Queensland, 82% of builders report delays with supplies or trades.

The shortfall of affordable accommodation for renters was exacerbated this year by flooding in southeast Queensland and continued interstate migration that regional parts of the state have seen over the last two years. With the population growing and rental market tightening, the government needs to continue looking at a range of avenues for renters to have access to a greater pool of places to live.

The Deputy Premier announced that the changes will be reviewed after three years to ensure there are no unintended consequences and consider future housing supply to meet Queenslander’s needs. These proposals are designed to provide greater housing choice and diversity within lower density residential areas to accommodate smaller households. Each homeowner will need to make sure their secondary dwelling complies with fire and building provisions so to ensure a renter’s safety.

If you are a homeowner with a secondary dwelling that you would like to consider renting out, our team is here to help you navigate being a landlord and managing a rental property with tenants. Contact us today for a free rental appraisal on your granny flat or for general information about our property management services.

Sources: Mozo, QBCC & QLD Gov