Anyone who’s searched for a new place to rent knows it can be exciting but also stressful putting your best foot forward in an application to hopefully be chosen by the landlord.
At times you may have found the information asked in an application form hasn’t been relevant to the rental or has been inappropriate. But that’s all changing now. New laws recently commenced to better protect tenants while still ensuring the rights of landlords are upheld in South Australia.
A new application form
A new rental application form has been introduced which limits the amount of personal information that can be requested by landlords and agents. The new form will be mandatory from 1 January 2026, but future tenants may start seeing the new form now during the transition period.
The new single rental application form means:
- one consistent application for everyone in South Australia
- a clearer process for landlords
- tenants are not asked to provide inappropriate or irrelevant personal information – such as their relationship status or details of their social media accounts.
A separate application needs to be filled out by each prospective tenant to be listed on the resulting lease, and they can now indicate a preferred duration of the tenancy.
The prescribed application form is available now at sa.gov.au/tenancy/privaterentalforms.
Further protections for renters’ details
The new application form follows other changes that commenced 1 July this year requiring tenant and potential tenant information be held securely and then destroyed after a certain period.
Landlords and agents must destroy the information:
- if the application is successful - 3 years after the end of the tenancy
- for unsuccessful applicants - 30 days after the tenancy is let – or if the applicant agrees, 6 months after providing the information. Applicants might be happy for landlords or agents to hold onto their information for 6 months in case other rental opportunities come up during that time.
Landlords and agents cannot require prospective tenants to provide more than 2 documents in each of the following categories: verifying identity, financial ability to pay rent and suitability. However, tenants can still offer to provide further documentation that might assist in their rental application.
Other new rental reforms
The following changes also commenced 1 September 2025.
- Landlords can now terminate a lease if they wish to sell their property, but only once they’ve signed a sales agreement with a registered agent. Affected tenants on a fixed term lease must be given 60 days’ notice before the end of the fixed term.
- The reasons to end a rooming house agreement have been expanded, so the reasons now mirror those that apply for residential tenancies.
- There have been some minor administrative wording changes to prescribed forms.
Know your rights
There have been significant changes to SA’s laws for residential tenancies, rooming houses and residential parks over the last few years, so make sure you know your rights and obligations as a tenant, landlord, park resident or park owner. Visit cbs.sa.gov.au/rentalreforms to see an overview of all the changes.
If you’re a landlord, see the factsheet Summary of tenancy reforms for landlords and agents.
If you’re a tenant, see the updated Tenant Information Guide (PDF) or the Renting in SA - know your rights - Easy Read guide (PDF). Translations in Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Hindi and Vietnamese are available at sa.gov.au.
If you’re a park resident or park owner see the Residential Parks FAQs.
Advice and support
If you need advice about a rental issue:
- RentRight SA provides free advice and conciliation services to help resolve disputes between landlords and tenants or between park residents and park owners. Phone 1800 060 462 or visit their website SYC | RentRight SA.
- Consumer and Business Services (CBS) can provide impartial advice and recommend options to resolve a rental problem. Talk to a CBS Advice Officer by phoning 131 882.