Strategic Support for Retail, Commercial and Rural Lease Disputes
Lease disputes can quickly escalate into costly and disruptive conflicts. Whether you’re a landlord seeking to recover unpaid rent or enforce a make good clause, or a tenant facing a breach notice or early termination pressure, early legal advice is key to protecting your position.
At Enterprise Legal, we represent landlords and tenants across Queensland in disputes involving retail, commercial, and rural leases. We provide clear, commercially focused advice and help resolve matters through negotiation, formal notice processes, and where necessary, tribunal or court proceedings.
We also offer fixed or capped fees wherever possible, including for lease enforcement actions, tenancy dispute resolution and QCAT representation.
If your concern relates to reviewing or preparing a lease (rather than a dispute), see our Leasing & Sub-Leasing page for those services.
Common Leasing Disputes in Queensland
In Queensland, leasing disputes often involve unpaid rent, breach of key obligations, or disputes about handover conditions and make good requirements. We assist with a wide range of lease-related issues, including:
- rent arrears and operating expense disputes
- unlawful lease termination or abandonment
- breach of use or occupancy clauses
- access and quiet enjoyment complaints
- disputes about repairs, damage or maintenance
- make good obligations and end-of-lease reinstatement
- early termination negotiations
- disputes over renewal rights or option notices
We advise both landlords and tenants and tailor our approach to suit the type of lease, the property involved and the commercial realities of the dispute.
Retail, Commercial and Rural Tenancy Disputes
Retail leases in Queensland are governed by the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 (Qld). This legislation includes strict requirements around disclosure, dispute resolution, and the handling of rent and outgoings. We regularly assist clients with:
- mandatory mediation for retail lease disputes
- non-compliant disclosure documentation
- disputes about permitted use, trading hours, or promotional levies
- enforcement of tenant or landlord obligations
Commercial leases (such as for warehouses or offices) are not subject to the same legislation but still require careful navigation, particularly where bespoke clauses apply. Rural leasing disputes, involving agistment, grazing, water access or infrastructure use, often carry unique risks due to unwritten terms or long-standing informal arrangements.
Learn more about our work with landholders and rural business operators on our Farming Agreements page.
How We Help Resolve Disputes
We support our clients at every stage of a leasing dispute. Whether you’ve received a breach notice, want to exit a lease early, or need to recover losses from a non-performing tenant, we can help. Our services include:
- issuing and responding to formal breach notices
- negotiating variations, exits or payment arrangements
- representing parties in retail tenancy mediation under the Retail Shop Leases Act
- advising on lease enforcement strategies
- appearing in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) or Queensland courts
- assisting with lease handover disputes and make good claims
We also support clients who want to reduce future risk by reviewing key clauses or engaging us for proactive legal support through our Business Advisory services.
◈ More Dispute Resolution Services ◈
Leasing & Tenancy Dispute FAQs
In a leasing or tenancy dispute in Queensland?
Book a consultation with our experienced lease dispute lawyers today and get practical advice tailored to your property and position.
