Lodging and managing a bond
Cheaper alternatives to rental bonds, often called 'bond replacement' products, are being advertised in South Australia. These products may not be legal here.
Read more on the CBS website.
A bond is a security deposit the tenant gives the landlord at the beginning of a lease. The landlord must lodge it with Consumer and Business Services (CBS). At the end of the lease, it is returned to the tenant if there are no claims for cleaning, outstanding rent or other costs.
From 1 November 2015, registered agents need to manage all new residential bonds online.
The maximum bond for residential tenancy agreements is:
- up to four weeks rent if weekly rent is $250 or less
- up to six weeks rent if weekly rent is more than $250.
The maximum bond for rooming house agreements is up to two weeks rent.
Landlords must give the tenant a receipt within 48 hours of receiving money for the bond.
Eligible low-income households can get help to pay the bond.
Lodging a bond
Landlords must lodge a bond within two weeks of receiving it. Registered agents have four weeks to lodge the bond.
Lodge a bond electronically using Residential Bonds Online (RBO), a free secure service that can be accessed on all internet-based devices.
Use the bond lodgement form (84.3 KB PDF) if you are lodging the bond at a CBS office or by post. Make cheques payable to ‘Residential Tenancies Fund’ or fill in the direct debit section on the back of the form.
If an email address was provided, you will receive a receipt by email. If not, you can add or update your email address any time.
Lodging a bond in instalments
Landlords and agents can lodge bond instalments through RBO.
Use the following steps if you are lodging a bond instalment at a CBS office or by post.
- Lodge the first bond instalment using the bond lodgement form.
- Keep the bond number provided by CBS.
- Lodge further instalments using a bond lodgement form and include the bond number you were originally given.
Signing the bond lodgement form
When a bond is lodged the form should be signed by the landlord and tenant.
Forms that are not signed by the tenant will still be accepted. CBS will send the form back to the landlord to get the tenant’s signature. The landlord should keep a copy of the signed form and return a copy to CBS.
Increasing the bond
The bond can be increased two years after it is received or if it has been two years since the last increase.
Landlords and agents can lodge the increased bond payment through RBO.
If lodging the bond increase at a CBS office or by post, use a bond lodgement form and include the original security bond number.
Landlords must lodge the bond increase within two weeks of receiving it. Registered agents have four weeks to lodge the bond increase.
Rooming house bonds cannot be increased.
Housing SA bond guarantees can't be increased. The original bond guarantee must be released and a new guarantee issues. Tenants may need to reapply for assistance through Housing SA.
Bond guarantees
Housing SA can help eligible people with a bond guarantee. Bond guarantees can be lodged through RBO.
The Housing SA bond guarantee replaces the bond lodgement form. A guarantee is processed the same way as a cash bond. If any of the bond is claimed, the tenant needs to repay Housing SA.
The bond guarantee must:
- be signed by landlord and tenant
- be lodged with CBS by the landlord.
Bond guarantees have an expiry date. Housing SA may reissue an expired bond guarantee in certain circumstances. Customers may need to reapply for assistance through Housing SA.
Contact Housing SA if you want to know more about bond guarantees.
Updating details on a lodged bond
A landlord can update details on a lodged bond through RBO.
If you are unable to do this online, complete the appropriate form and return it to CBS:
Bond guarantee details cannot be changed.
Direct debit arrangements
Register for Residential Bonds Online (RBO) to provide your agency’s banking details.
Agents can authorise staff to sign on their behalf by completing an agent's authority form (30.5 KB PDF). A new authority form needs to be completed for changes to authorised staff.
Self-managed landlords and tenants
Self-managed landlords and tenants can arrange to have money for their bond transferred from their bank account by using the relevant form:
- Individual direct debit request - bond lodgement (235.6 KB PDF)
- Residential park owner direct debit request –-bond lodgement (33.7 KB PDF)
A new form is not needed each time a bond is received.
Contact CBS Bonds
Online: Residential bond enquiries
Phone: 131 882
In person:
91 Grenfell Street
Adelaide
Post:
GPO Box 965
Adelaide SA 5001
