Can I rent my granny flat to anyone in Queensland? 🗺️

Yes! Since September 2022, Queensland planning laws have allowed you to rent a secondary dwelling to anyone, regardless of family connection. However, the physical building must still hold the correct planning and building approvals.

Do I need council approval to rent out my existing granny flat? 🏢

Not always. If your granny flat is already fully approved with no family-only constraints, you can rent it out today without notifying the council. If it has an old occupancy condition on the approval, you must apply for a "Change Application" to remove it first.

What happens if my granny flat approval says "family only"? ⚠️

You must formally apply to your local council under the Planning Act 2016 for a Change Application. Do not rent it to a non-family tenant until the council officially updates your approval conditions.

Do I need smoke alarms if I rent out my granny flat? 🔔

Yes. You must have hard-wired, interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms that meet current Queensland rental safety standards. You should have a licensed building certifier inspect the flat and issue a Form 29 compliance check before renting it.

What type of tenancy agreement do I need for a granny flat? 📄

For a fully self-contained granny flat, use a standard General Tenancy Agreement (Form 18a) via the RTA. If the tenant shares a kitchen in the main house, a Rooming Accommodation Agreement (Form R18) is the correct choice.