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Published: September 24, 2025
Tenancy Database Listings
A tenancy database, also known as a “tenant blacklist”, is a private database used by landlords and real estate agents to record information about tenants who have had issues during their tenancy.
Landlords and real estate agents will commonly check one or more tenancy databases when a person applies for a rental property. A number of companies maintain tenancy databases. In Queensland, the most commonly used tenancy database is TICA.
In Queensland, the residential tenancy laws regulate when a person can be recorded on a tenancy database, what information can be recorded, and when a listing must be removed.
This resource provides a practical overview of these regulations and the practical steps a person can take if they have been listed on a tenancy database. Everyday Law in Queensland provides a more detailed overview of the laws in Queensland.
When can a person be listed?
A person can only be listed on a tenancy database if they are a tenant under a tenancy agreement and the tenancy has ended. A tenant can be listed on a tenancy database for a maximum of three years.
In Queensland, a person can only be listed for an approved reason, which includes:
Tenants owes money to the landlord
In some limited circumstances, a tenant that owes a landlord money at the end of the agreement can be listed. However, even where the landlord says that the tenant owes money at the end of the tenancy, it’s only when certain conditions are met that a tenant can be listed.
- Unpaid Rent: the tenant owes rent and the landlord gave the tenant a Notice to Remedy Breach for Rent Arrears that was not remedied. Landlords do not need a QCAT order.
- Money Owed Under a QCAT Order: the tenant owes money under a conciliation agreement or QCAT order that has not been paid.
- Money Owed After Abandonment: the tenant abandoned the property and the landlord followed the correct process for abandonment under Queensland’s tenancy laws.
The amount owed must be more than the bond paid or, if no bond was paid, more than one week’s rent. If the amount owed is less than the bond, the tenant cannot be listed.
Evicted for objectionable behaviour
A tenant can be listed on a tenancy database if QCAT terminated the tenancy agreement for objectional behaviour. There must be a QCAT order terminating the tenancy.
Evicted for repeated breaches
A tenant can be listed on a tenancy database if QCAT terminated the tenancy agreement for repeated breaches. There must be a QCAT order terminating the tenancy.
How to check if a community member has been listed?
A community member may not know if they have been listed. A landlord or agent is required to inform a tenant of their intention to list them and to give them an opportunity to oppose a listing but this commonly does not happen. A landlord or agent may not be unable to locate the tenant at the end of the tenancy. For example, where the landlord does not have the tenant’s current contact details.
If a community member is unsure if they are listed, they can:
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- Request Information from their previous Landlord or Agent: They are required to inform the tenant if they have listed them on a database but may charge a fee. Most agents will send you a copy of the listing, if they still have it on their file.
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- Contact the Database Operator: The tenant can directly contact the database operator (eg companies like TICA, National Tenancy Database (NTD) or Trading Reference Australia) to request a copy of the listing, which then must be provided to them within 14 days. Tenancy databases will charge a fee to provide this information.
Tenants Queensland have some practical tips about contacting TICA to request a copy of a listing.
Some housing support services can search a tenancy database listing. This is often the fastest and cheapest way to confirm if a listing exists. You may want to contact your local services to ask if this is something that they can help with.
If a community member is listed, you may want to contact the listing agent to request information about the tenancy and the reason for the listing. This information will help consider if the listing is correct.
Reasons a listing should be removed
A listing should be removed if it is inaccurate, incomplete, ambiguous or out of date. It can also be removed in circumstances where the listing is unlawful or it would be ‘unjust’ for the community member to remain listed. Tenants Queensland produce some helpful resources that discuss when a listing is unlawful or unjust.
For tenants that believe a listing is unlawful, unjust or inaccurate, the first step is to ask the listing agent or database operator to remove or update the listing. This can be the fastest way to correct a listing.
If the tenant believes there has been a breach in the listing process, i.e. there has been an unlawful listing that does not meet the approved criteria, they must apply to QCAT within six months of becoming aware of the breach.
Asking the listing agent to remove a listing
The listing agent can remove a listing at any time. If you believe a listing is unlawful, unjust or inaccurate, you can contact the landlord or listing agent to discuss whether they will agree to remove or update the listing. Any request should be in writing and clearly outline why you think the listing is unlawful or unjust.
You may also want to speak with the listing agent or landlord to discuss possible solutions. For example, a community member may have left a property owing rent that was more than the bond. Some agents or landlords will agree to remove a lawful and accurate listing where the community member agrees to pay some of the damages or unpaid rent. If you do reach an agreement, it’s important the agreement is in writing.
If the listing is unlawful or inaccurate, you can also write to the tenancy database operator to request they update their records. Tenancy database operators have legal obligations to ensure the accuracy of the information they hold and, if the listing is clearly unlawful or inaccurate, they will usually update the listing. For example, where the only listings are for ‘cleaning’ and ‘water’, a tenancy database operator will usually agree to remove the listing as unlawful.
Some listing agents or landlords will record multiple reasons for a listing, including ‘rent arrears’, ‘cleaning’, ‘water’, or ‘tribunal order’. Cleaning and water charges are not approved reasons in Queensland and should be removed.
However, the practical impact of a listing on a community member may be limited if the unlawful reasons are removed but other reasons (like rent arrears) remain.
Applying to QCAT to have the listing removed
If you are unable to reach an agreement with the landlord, a community member may want to consider applying to QCAT to request the removal.
Tenants Queensland outline the steps to apply to QCAT to challenge a listing.
In practice, most real estates will agree to remove listings that are clearly unlawful or inaccurate. Many real estates or landlords are open to negotiating the removal, particularly if the tenant is able to offer some form of compensation (for example, if the tenant offers to pay a portion of the remaining unpaid rent or the cost of damage that they accept responsibility). Many real estates or landlords are also willing to remove a listing if the damage was caused by family violence.
If you believe the listing is lawful (or you are unsure) but think there may be grounds to argue that the listing is unjust, we suggest getting advice from LawRight, a local community legal centre or QSTARS.
James came to see us after a real estate agent told him he was ‘blacklisted’. James had a copy of the listing, which included ‘rent arrears’ and ‘cleaning’.
James explained that he left his last tenancy after being told to leave. He didn’t pay the last two weeks rent but thought that his bond would cover this. He cleaned the house before he left.
We contacted the real estate to get more information about what happened when James left, including a copy of the rental ledger and exit condition report.
The listing agent claimed that James owed two weeks rent but this wasn’t paid because the bond was taken to pay for cleaning and other costs. Given this, the landlord listed James on TICA.
James’ list was unlawful. Cleaning is not an approved reason. Although James owed some rent after he left, it was not more than the bond.
We wrote to the listing agent explaining why the listing was unlawful and requesting that they remove the listing. After receiving our letter, the agent agreed to remove the unlawful listings.
