A lease renewal might feel like a routine job for your property management team. But before you send it off for signing, it’s worth giving those numbers one more look. 

In a recent Queensland case, an incorrect rent figure created a $300 per week difference between what the agency intended and what the tenant signed. The agency asked the tribunal to correct the agreement. The appeal was dismissed. 

Here’s what happened, and what property managers can take from it. 

 

the renewal that went wrong

 

In Aniko Property Management Pty Ltd v Beal [2026] QCATA 118, the tenant had been paying $1,500 per week for a Hope Island property. The agency said the rent for the new term was meant to be $1,550 per week. 

Instead, the renewal recorded $1,250 per week. The tenant signed it, and the bond amount had also been reduced to match the lower rent. 

The agency accepted that it had entered the wrong figure. But the tenant had no reason to know it was a mistake. He understood the lower rent to be genuine. 

 

couldn’t the tribunal just fix the typo?

 

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s Appeal Tribunal said it can correct a residential tenancy agreement in an appropriate case. That doesn’t mean every mistake can be undone. 

Here, changing the rent after the tenant signed would have meant asking him to pay more without having had the chance to negotiate that amount or look for another property. The Appeal Tribunal decided that correcting the agreement would not be fair or appropriate in these circumstances. 

The takeaway? 

Proving your agency made a mistake may not be enough to change a signed renewal. 

 

what should your property management team check? 

 

Before a renewal goes out, make sure your process covers: 

  1. The owner’s instructions. Is the proposed rent clearly confirmed and recorded? 
  2. The figure in the final agreement. Does it match those instructions and any correspondence with the tenant? 
  3. The related details. Do the bond amount and other terms make sense alongside the new rent? 
  4. A final review. Who checks the document that will actually be sent for signing? 

It’s a simple list, but it needs a clear owner. If everyone assumes someone else checked the final version, an error can slip through. 

 

small typo, bigger problem

 

One wrong digit can be easy to miss. Once the agreement is signed, fixing it may be anything but easy. 

If you discover an error in a signed renewal, don’t assume you can simply update the rent. The options will depend on what happened, what was communicated and the terms the parties agreed to.  

Get advice before taking the next step. 

 

we’re here to help 

Lease renewals shouldn’t become legal headaches. If you have questions about an agreement or want a closer look at the documents and processes your agency uses, give the businessDEPOT Legal team a buzz on 1300 BDEPOT or email legal@businessdepot.com.au. We’re here to help you get the details right. 

 

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general advise disclaimer  

The information in this article provides a brief overview of the subject matter and does not constitute any type of advice. While we endeavour to ensure the information is accurate, it may become outdated as legislation, policies, regulations and other circumstances change. You should not rely on this information to make financial, investment or legal decisions. Please consult an appropriate professional for advice tailored to your circumstances before making any decision.