If you've ever rented a house, unit or apartment, Consumer and Business Services may be holding an unclaimed residential bond in your name, which can be refunded to you - Check if your bond is unclaimed
Read more about unclaimed bonds on the CBS website
The bond should be returned to the tenant or resident at the end of the lease if there are no claims by the landlord or proprietor for cleaning, outstanding rent or other costs. Bond guarantees will be returned to Housing SA – the tenant or resident will need to pay back Housing SA for any bond claimed.
Related information
Both the tenant and landlord must be registered with Residential Bonds Online (RBO) to refund a bond electronically.
Once the landlord and tenant agree to refund the bond and on any claims made, a request can be lodged.
How bonds are refunded
There are two ways a bond can be refunded:
- directly into a bank account
- by cheque.
Providing your bank details
You can enter your bank account details in RBO during the refund process.
If completing a bond refund form (244.7 KB PDF) enter your details on the form.
Tenant has moved overseas
Tenants should keep their Australian bank account open so their refund can be paid quickly and easily.
Fill in an International Money Transfer form (218.9 KB PDF) if the refund needs to be paid into an overseas bank account.
Unclaimed bond money
Funds are held by CBS if the person:
- is not active on RBO at time of refund
- did not provide bank details or forwarding address.
Check a bond status to see if CBS is holding money for you.
Claims on the bond
You can make a claim on RBO or by filling in a bond refund form.
Landlords/proprietors can claim for:
- unpaid rent
- unpaid water supply charges
- repair costs for damage caused by the tenant or resident
- cleaning costs
- cost of re-letting if the tenant or resident leaves before the end of the lease.
Avoiding disputes
Tenants/residents should:
- make sure rent is paid up to the end date on the lease
- pay any outstanding water supply charges
- check the property using the inspection sheet and any photos they took when they moved in
- complete the inspection sheet and take photos when they leave
- provide the landlord and CBS with their new contact details - this can speed up the refund process.
Bond claims without consent
When a refund form is received (claiming a bond amount), the person who hasn't given consent on the form is notified of a claim. This gives people a chance to dispute it. The notice includes information about the claim and the final date that CBS needs a response.
If the tenant/resident does not respond, the landlord/proprietor must provide evidence of their claim (200.5 KB PDF). Claims can be refused if the evidence is insufficient – an application will then need to be made the South Australian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (SACAT).
Dispute a bond claim
A landlord, proprietor, tenant or Housing SA can dispute a bond claim. We encourage you to talk to each other first. But if the dispute can't be resolved, any person connected to the bond can make a claim or dispute another person's claim.
Registered RBO users can dispute a bond electronically.
