Hanging pictures or planting a garden might soon be easier for Queensland renters as the state government acts on the next stage of property reform.
The opening of public consultation on proposed laws follows a promise to limit rent increases to once a year amid some of the steepest rises in the country and a vacancy rate under one per cent.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the required legislation would be tabled this week.
"Solving the housing issue is a complex problem that needs partnership and collaboration across all levels of government, along with industry, investors and community organisations," she said.
The state government wants to strike a balance between the rights of renters and landlords as it progresses the next stage of rental reforms.
The laws aimed to improve transparency, accountability and fairness in the rental market, Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch told parliament on Tuesday.
The consultation process will investigate making it easier for renters to modify homes for security, safety and accessibility reasons.
Improving negotiations to personalise homes, such as planting a garden or hanging a picture, will also be included.
Fee-free methods to pay rent, improving the bond process and privacy issues are also on the table.
"We know there is unprecedented pressure on the housing sector right now and we recognise that tenancy laws in Queensland must be modernised to keep pace with the changing rental landscape," Ms Enoch told parliament on Tuesday.
The move comes amid a tight rental market across much of the state, according to new figures released by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ).
The statewide vacancy rate has marginally improved from 0.8 per cent in the December 2022 quarter, to 0.9 per cent in March 2023.
A healthy rate is between 2.6 and 3.5 per cent, the Residential Vacancy Rate Report says.
"Queensland is still worlds away from a healthy rental market and a grossly insufficient level of housing supply is squarely to blame," REIQ chief executive Antonia Mercorella said on Tuesday.
There is a heavy reliance on private investors, and making the market less appealing with actions such as rent control is "not the right solution", she said.
"We should be focused on the underlying cause of the rental crisis and increasing housing supply, including social housing."
Adequate protections for tenants should be balanced against a "certain amount of flexibility and freedom" to ensure landlords were prepared to keep their property on the market, Ms Mercorella said.
