If you’ve rented a residential property in South Australia you may be entitled to an unclaimed bond refund. Consumer and Business Services (CBS) is holding a significant number of rental bonds that haven’t been claimed, with some unclaimed bonds dating back several years.

In SA landlords and property managers must lodge residential bonds collected at the start of a tenancy with CBS, then at the end of the tenancy the bond can be returned to the tenant(s) if there are no claims by the landlord/proprietor for cleaning, outstanding rent or other reasonable costs. Sometimes bonds aren’t able to be refunded – e.g. when a tenant enters their banking or contact details incorrectly, or their details have changed. This can make following up with the tenant difficult and the bond becomes unclaimed.

Check if you have an unclaimed bond

Visit the CBS Bond Status Register and enter the bond number, bond guarantee number, or the address of the property rented. This will show if CBS is holding bond money for you.

Making a claim for the return of a bond

Complete the Application for an unclaimed bond form. You will need to submit legible copies of 100 points of identification and pass an identity check.

Claims and validated refunds will be processed within 10 business days in most cases. Please note, you may need to allow some additional time for your bank to process your refund before it is deposited into your account.

If you have difficulty making a claim for an unclaimed bond, contact the bonds team at CBS via bondfollowup@sa.gov.au or phone 131 882.

Rental advice for tenants

If you’re currently renting, remember that you have certain rights and responsibilities. As a tenant you must:

• pay the rent on time
• keep the property in a clean and reasonable state
• report damage or repair needs to the landlord
• seek the landlord’s approval before you keep pets, invite others to live at the property or make changes to the property
• not use or allow anyone else to use the property for an illegal purpose
• not make excessive noise or affect the comfort or privacy of your neighbours.

Rental advice for landlords

Landlords are responsible for and should pay for:

• Overall maintenance of the property
• Repairs - which must be carried out in a reasonable time
• Maintaining or replacing consumables – e.g. light globes and water filters
• Larger gardening jobs – e.g. cutting back tree branches
• Dealing with pest infestations, if the problem existed at the start of the tenancy. However, the tenant may be responsible if pests become a problem during the tenancy and all entry points have been sealed by the landlord.

Dealing with disputes

If you have any concerns relating to your rental property, raise these with your landlord or tenant in the first instance. Having a conversation about the issue may resolve the matter. But if the issue continues you can contact CBS for information about your rights and responsibilities. CBS can recommend options to help resolve the dispute. If a suitable outcome is not achieved, then depending on the nature of the dispute, you may apply to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT). SACAT will make a decision and issue a binding order.

More information

The SA.GOV website has helpful information for tenants and landlords:

• SA.GOV – renting rights and responsibilities
• SA.GOV – bond refunds.

Or contact Consumer and Business Services for advice on 131 882.