RenterIQGetting your full bond back in South Australia
Your bond is your money — it's held in trust, not the landlord's to keep. At the end of a tenancy it should be returned in full unless there's a fair reason to deduct, such as unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear. In South Australia, bonds and the refund process are overseen by Consumer and Business Services (CBS) SA.
Get the South Australia answer — ask RenterIQ free →What a landlord can (and cannot) claim
A landlord can generally claim for unpaid rent, repairs for damage you caused beyond fair wear and tear, or cleaning if the property was left less clean than at move-in. They cannot charge you for normal ageing — faded paint, worn carpet in walkways, or minor scuffs from everyday living. The single best protection is evidence: clear, timestamped photos of the property at move-in to compare against move-out.
The refund process in South Australia
When you move out, your bond refund is processed through Consumer and Business Services (CBS) SA. If you and the landlord agree on the amount, it's usually quick. If there's a dispute, having a side-by-side photo record of the property's condition at the start and end of your tenancy makes your case far stronger than relying on memory.
Consumer and Business Services (CBS) SA — official renting information · phone 131 882. They set and publish the exact rules that apply to your tenancy.
Common questions — South Australia
Timeframes are set by Consumer and Business Services (CBS) SA. An agreed refund is typically faster than a disputed one — which is why clear move-in and move-out evidence helps you get your money back sooner.
No. Fair wear and tear — the gradual ageing that happens from ordinary living — is the landlord's responsibility, not yours. Deductions should only be for damage beyond that, unpaid rent, or agreed cleaning.
If you can't agree, the dispute is decided through Consumer and Business Services (CBS) SA's process. Photos showing the property's condition at move-in versus move-out are the evidence that usually settles it.