Kitchen, Laundry, and Plumbing Minimum Standards for Queensland Rentals

Kitchen Facilities: The Cooktop Requirement

Schedule 5A, section 8 of the RTRA Regulation 2009 is specific: where a kitchen is included in the rental property, it must contain a functioning cooktop.

The standard says "functioning cooktop" — not oven, microwave, or dishwasher. If the lease includes those appliances, they must be maintained in good repair under the general fixtures standard (section 2), but only the cooktop is singled out in section 8.

Test the cooktop before each new tenancy. For gas cooktops, check that igniters spark reliably and flames burn evenly. For electric cooktops, verify that the elements heat and the control switches operate correctly. If the cooktop is not functioning, repair or replace it before the tenant moves in.

Gas cooktop repairs or replacements must be performed by a licensed gas fitter. The fitter must lodge a Gas Compliance Certificate digitally through the RSHQ Portal (physical compliance plates were phased out from July 2025 for most domestic installations). Keep a copy of the certificate in your property compliance file.

Laundry Facilities

Section 9 applies only where a laundry is included in the property. If the property has a laundry, its fixtures — the tub, taps, and plumbing connections — must be functional. Drains must clear properly, taps must not leak, and bypass connections for washing machines must deliver water at adequate pressure.

You are not required to provide a washing machine or dryer — only the infrastructure that allows the tenant to connect their own. If you do supply a washing machine, it becomes a fixture under section 2 and must be maintained in working order.

Some modern apartment designs omit a separate laundry and provide a washer connection in the bathroom or kitchen. The standard applies to whatever laundry infrastructure exists. If there is no laundry space at all and the tenancy agreement does not mention one, section 9 does not apply.

Plumbing, Drainage, and Hot Water

Section 6 requires adequate plumbing and drainage for the property's intended occupant capacity, connected to a hot and cold drinking water supply. The supply can come from mains water, a rainwater tank and pump system, or other approved infrastructure.

Hot water is explicitly required — not just cold. If the hot water system fails, you have a non-compliant property. Hot water system replacement or repair must be treated with urgency. A property without hot water is a minimum housing standard breach, and the tenant can seek an emergency repair order or engage a contractor under the four-weeks'-rent emergency repair provision.

For properties on tank water rather than mains, you must ensure the system delivers potable water suitable for drinking. This means maintaining the pressure pump, replacing inline filtration cartridges on schedule, clearing leaf strainers, and keeping the tank itself in clean condition. A water quality test is advisable, particularly in rural areas.

Plumbing repairs must be carried out by a QBCC-licensed plumber. Verify the plumber's licence through the QBCC Occupational Licence Search at qbcc.qld.gov.au before engaging them. Unlicensed plumbing work breaches local public health and drainage legislation.

Bathroom and Toilet Function

Section 7 requires bathrooms and toilets to provide user privacy (for example, a fitted closing door) and functional facilities. Toilets must flush, refill properly, and connect to sewer, septic, or an approved waste system.

Check that bathroom doors close fully and provide privacy; the standard does not specify a latch or lock. Toilet flush mechanisms should fill the cistern reliably and flush completely — a running cistern that never stops filling wastes water and indicates a faulty valve that needs replacement.

For properties with septic systems, the tank must be maintained and desludged regularly to prevent sewage backing up into household facilities. Septic maintenance is the landlord's responsibility, not the tenant's, and neglecting it creates both a health hazard and a minimum standards breach.

Ventilation

While Schedule 5A does not include a standalone ventilation standard, ventilation intersects with several other standards. Inadequate ventilation contributes to mould (section 4 breach), affects bathroom and kitchen amenity, and can indicate a structural deficiency if original ventilation openings have been blocked.

Bathroom exhaust fans should be tested before each tenancy — a fan that runs but does not draw air is ineffective and contributes to moisture buildup. Kitchen rangehood fans, where provided, should extract air to the exterior, not recirculate it into the room.

Subfloor ventilation in raised Queenslanders is critical for preventing rising damp and termite conditions. Blocked subfloor vents should be cleared as part of the pre-tenancy inspection.

Documenting Kitchen, Laundry, and Plumbing Compliance

Record the condition and functionality of every kitchen, laundry, and plumbing fixture on your Form 1a Entry Condition Report. Test each item in front of the tenant at handover where possible, and photograph the cooktop with all burners operating, the laundry tub and connections, hot water output at the kitchen and bathroom taps, and toilet flush and fill cycles.

The Rental Minimum Standards in Queensland guide includes dedicated audit sections for kitchen, laundry, plumbing, and bathroom standards, with the specific checks for each and guidance on when you need a licensed tradesperson versus when you can verify compliance yourself.

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