How long does my landlord have to give back my bond in South Australia?
No, there is no exact time limit a landlord has to return your bond in South Australia. However, you do not need to wait for them. You can submit a bond refund claim directly through Consumer and Business Services (CBS) as soon as your tenancy ends.
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How it works in practice
In South Australia, your rental bond is held securely by Consumer and Business Services (CBS), not your landlord. When your tenancy finishes, either you or your landlord can initiate the bond refund process.
Mutual Agreement
If you and your landlord agree on the refund amount, the landlord can authorize the release through the Residential Tenancies Online (RBO) system. Once agreed, CBS usually processes the refund directly into your nominated bank account within a few business days.
Claiming It Yourself
If your landlord delays the process or stops communicating, you are not legally required to wait for their permission. You can log into the RBO portal and lodge a claim for your bond immediately after handing back the keys.
Disputed Claims
Once you claim your bond directly, CBS will send a formal Notice of Claim to your landlord. They will then have a strict legal window to either agree to the refund or formally dispute it by applying to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT). If they fail to act within this timeframe, CBS will automatically release the funds to you.
Important exceptions
If your landlord claims money for cleaning, unpaid rent, or property damage (excluding fair wear and tear), they can formally dispute your bond claim.
If a dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation, the matter will be escalated to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT), which will delay the return of your bond until a formal hearing takes place and a legally binding decision is made.
What you should do now
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Ensure the property is returned clean and in the same condition as when you moved in, minus fair wear and tear.
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Hand back all keys to the landlord or property manager to officially end your tenancy.
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Log into the Consumer and Business Services (CBS) Residential Tenancies Online (RBO) portal.
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Submit your bond refund claim directly through the RBO portal if your landlord has not already initiated the release.
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Monitor your email and account for any dispute notices or requests for a SACAT hearing from your landlord.
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