Queensland rental law sets out who must receive keys at the start of a tenancy and what must happen to those keys when the tenancy ends.
One tenant gets a key for every lock
If more than one person is named as a tenant on the agreement, the lessor must give one of those tenants a key for every lock covered by section 210 of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. That can include locks securing the entry, normal access to the property or building, and locks that form part of the premises such as a mailbox, shed, lockable room or built-in cupboard.
What do the other named tenants receive?
Each other named tenant must be given the keys needed to enter the premises and to pass through locks that control the normal route used to access or leave the property or building, such as a security gate or boom gate.
The RTA summarises this by saying that each person named on the tenancy agreement must have a set of keys to enter the property, while a single set is required for other lockable areas.
Keys include more than metal keys
For tenancy purposes, access can also involve electronic key cards, swipe cards, fobs and remote controls. These should be considered when checking whether all occupants have the access they are entitled to.
Copies made during the tenancy
The RTA states that all keys and copies made by the tenant must be returned when the tenancy ends. This also includes remotes, access cards and similar access devices.
Why key control still matters
Meeting the legal key-distribution requirement does not prove that every old copy has been accounted for. Where there is uncertainty about who may still hold working keys, a locksmith can often rekey suitable locks without replacing the complete lockset.
Read: Should locks be rekeyed between tenancies? →
Queensland government sources
- RTA – Locks and security
- RTA – Rental premises use, condition and repairs
- RTA – Rent, keys and other
- Queensland Legislation – Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, section 210
General information only, not legal advice. Check the current RTA and Queensland legislation for your circumstances.