Lithium-ion Battery Fires And More Fatal Blows To Rent Controls

May 13, 2025 Edward Dever

Some interesting claims data for landlords and homeowners on the causes of lithium-ion battery fires.

At the top of the Allianz claims list are power and garden tools (38% of fires) followed by devices with battery cells, like flashlights and torches (31%), mobile phones (12%), e-scooters and e-bikes (11%) and remote-control toys and hobby devices such as drones and kids’ ride-on cars (8%).

Key causes of fires were leaving them plugged in after the batteries were replenished and charging devices with cords and chargers meant for different devices.

One issue raised in the report is that tools are often charged in garages where there are no smoke detectors. "They are just left to charge for not just days, but months. Garages will often have additional fuel lying around like junk or petrol for the mower and it can set alight easily.”

There is currently no requirement in Queensland to add smoke detectors in garages.

Dangerous recharging practices have been the catalyst for a growing number of Aussie house fires

Meanwhile, the Queensland Government has launched an inquiry into e-mobility safety and use in Queensland. This includes "issues associated with e-mobility ownership, such as risk of fire, storage and disposal of lithium batteries."

Submissions are due by 20 June 2025.

Following the NSW approach requiring battery-powered devices to meet a set of internationally accepted product standards, including appropriate tests and certification is hopefully the way forward.

Inquiry into e-mobility safety and use in Queensland

Rent controls

At the 2024 Queensland State Election, the Greens' most outspoken advocate for rent controls, Amy MacMahon, was defeated.

The Federal election on 3 May 2025 saw both the Greens' Federal leader, Adam Bandt, and Queensland Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather, who consistently advocated for rent controls, become electoral roadkill, losing their seats to the ALP.

With a number of Greens MPs still in the Senate (and one in the Lower House), continued advocacy for rent controls remains unclear. However, the main proponents of this policy, particularly Mr Chandler-Mather, are no longer in Parliament.

In June 2024, the Qld Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works stated that it believed forms of rent control are generally ineffective.

The Report (on page 20) states:

"the department noted that economic research has identified that rent price controls, such as restricting or limiting the amount rent can be increased by, are generally ineffective at improving rental affordability and can have other negative effects, such as reducing the quality of rental stock and reducing renter mobility. They noted that the best way to address rental affordability is by increasing housing supply..."

Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works Report

May 2025

The content of this publication is intended to provide a general overview on matters which may be of interest. It is not intended to be comprehensive. It does not constitute advice in relation to particular circumstances nor does it constitute the provision of legal services, legal advice or financial product advice.

Submission to Queensland Government on Proposed Tenancy Reforms

December 19, 2018 Edward Dever

Set out below is an edited version of a submission made to the Queensland Government in relation to its proposed tenancy reforms. The deadline for submissions was 30 November 2018.

MEMORANDUM

Reference is made to the proposed changes to Queensland's tenancy laws.

We note that there is a possibility that Queensland will follow the Victorian model of allowing tenants to keep animals on a rental property as of right unless the landlord obtains a contrary order from VCAT. (https://www.vic.gov.au/rentfair/pets-are-welcome.html)

Should the Victorian model regarding animals be adopted in Queensland, we have a number of concerns as follows:

Landlords would be required, as an example, to allow tenants to keep a dog (of any size) in each rental property as of right, unless one could successfully argue against this, presumably with QCAT. In our view, certain properties are not suitable for animals such as dogs. Landlords would therefore be required to obtain orders from QCAT to allow them to refuse to permit animals in their properties.
Where properties rent on either a six- or twelve-month lease, it is possible that landlords with multiple properties would need to submit a significant number of applications per year to QCAT. While we agree that is unlikely that all tenants would wish to keep a dog or other animal, a high number of applications remains a possibility.
QCAT has confirmed that the current estimated timeframe for hearing an animal related order (a non-urgent tenancy related matter) following the conciliation process managed by the Residential Tenancies Authority is twenty weeks from lodgement to hearing. Without some form of streamlined process, it is unlikely that a matter would be resolved until most of a six-month tenancy has expired.
It is likely that QCAT would require additional funding and staff levels to deal with the potential significant number of applications from landlords in Queensland seeking animal related orders. QCAT have previously noted that “the judicial structure of the tribunal remains inadequate to address the caseload issues, the appeal load and the provision of the necessary management support to the tribunal. Additional staff and space is urgently required.” (https://www.qcat.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/559928/qcat-annual-report-2016-17.pdf)
Where rental properties have no front fence, no driveway gate and no exterior fenced exclusive use areas for tenants to keep animals such as dogs, these animals would need to remain in each unit at all times, including while the tenant was at work. This is likely to cause significant nuisance to neighbours. Multiple dogs residing in different units in a complex would likely increase the nuisance to neighbours. In our view, this would lead to increased tenant turnover.
Without modification, the requirement to allow animals such as dogs would put landlords in breach of certain Council requirements regarding the maximum permitted number of dogs on premises. It is not clear whether landlords would be required to make excess pet applications and whether such an application would need to be completed on a continual basis as tenants move in and out with animals such as dogs.
In one apartment complex example, without the right to refuse animals such as dogs, a situation could arise where there is a maximum of 16 dogs across eight apartments. This is based on the maximum number of dogs permitted per unit under the relevant Council regulations. Such an outcome is likely to result in significant nuisance to neighbours and increased tenant turnover within the apartment complex. Landlords and community title schemes should retain the right to refuse animals on reasonable grounds.
Pet bonds equivalent to, for example, four weeks rent are unlikely to cover the damage which may be incurred by landlords from animals, particularly for premises rented on a furnished basis.
The costs related to QCAT proceedings and any relevant council permit applications as well as likely increased tenant turnover would put upward pressure on rents.

Should the Queensland Government consider adopting the Victorian model of allowing tenants to keep animals on a rental property as of right, we would suggest the following points:

That the Queensland Government defer following the Victorian model until such time as the Victorian model is fully implemented and problems associated with this model can be identified, including issues related to the additional burden placed on VCAT. All the Victorian reforms are expected to be implemented by 1 July 2020. (https://www.vic.gov.au/rentfair/pets-are-welcome.html)
That landlords be permitted to refuse to allow animals such as dogs on reasonable grounds such as the type and size of animal, size of the property, lack of appropriate fencing or outdoor areas and proximity to other dwellings. The Queensland Government should recognise that certain premises such as small units and units close together are not suitable for all types of animals. Landlords are best placed to determine what animals are suitable for particular types of premises.
That community title schemes in Queensland retain the right to refuse to allow animals on reasonable grounds.
If landlords are required to make application to QCAT in order to refuse to allow an animal, a system be introduced whereby a landlord could make a once-off application in relation to a particular property rather than needing to make repeated applications to QCAT as new tenants lease the property and seek to keep animals. An alternative would be to allow such an application to be made in relation to a particular property, for example, once every three years. This would reduce the cost and administrative burden on both landlords and QCAT.

PELEN

November 2018

Smoke Alarms - Regime Change for Qld Rental Properties

December 21, 2016 Edward Dever

What Landlords Need To Know

From 1 January 2017, new rules for smoke alarms come into force in Queensland.

Landlords need to be aware of these changes. There are two key dates for smoke alarm upgrades – 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2022.

For existing dwellings, when replacing smoke alarms after 1 January 2017, photoelectric smoke alarms must be used. The existing requirements for testing smoke alarms prior to the commencement of a tenancy or any tenancy renewal remain.

More detailed rules apply from 1 January 2022. For any new or renewed tenancy, interconnected smoke alarms must be installed in each bedroom and hallway. Smoke alarms must be photoelectric, less than ten years old and not also contain an ionisation sensor. Smoke alarms must be hardwired or powered by a non-removable ten year battery.

Separate rules apply from 1 January 2017 to new dwellings and where dwellings are substantially renovated. Among other things, smoke alarms must be hardwired to the mains power supply with a secondary power source such as a battery.

A dwelling is considered to be substantially renovated if the building work is carried out under a building development approval for alterations to an existing building and the alterations (and any other approved or completed structural alterations in the past three years) represent more than half of the volume of the existing building.

Landlords of Queensland properties should audit their smoke alarms to ensure they remain up to date and comply with the new requirements.

Further details on the smoke alarm changes can be found here – QFES – Smoke Alarms.

PELEN

December 2016