We would like to thank everyone who helped COTA SA shape our advocacy activities and develop our contributions to the review of South Australia’s rental laws. You can read the submission we made in September 2023 here.

The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2023 (the Act) was passed by the Parliament of South Australia on 29 November 2023, and a phased commencement of the rental reforms contained within the Act began on 1 March 2024. Those provisions did not require significant adjustments to industry or community practices, and included: ensuring rent cannot be increased more than once within 12 months; creating penalties for existing offences including requiring prospective tenants to be notified if the premises is for sale and existing tenants to be given 14 days’ notice when a property is to be sold; tougher penalties for all offences; and clarifying that landlords cannot unreasonably refuse tenants subletting rental properties.

The remaining reforms within the Amendment Act and supporting regulations are set to commence on 1 July 2024, and include issues such as requiring prescribed grounds to terminate or not renew a tenancy; extending the notice period to not renew a fixed-term tenancy from 28 days to 60 days; allowing tenants to have pets in rental homes with reasonable conditions; greater protections for tenants’ information; providing additional support for victims of domestic abuse; limiting the number of routine inspections to 4 per year; and allowing minor alterations or safety modifications to premises (to be removed at the end of a tenancy).

If you would like further information regarding the changes to South Australia’s rental laws, visit the CBS website: www.cbs.sa.gov.au/rentalreforms