More than 50,000 renters across South Australia are seeing the benefits of a new set of tenancy laws introduced by the Malinauskas Government last year. Marking a year since the changes came into effect, the government says the reforms are working—making renting fairer while maintaining a workable system for landlords.
The updated laws followed a commitment made at National Cabinet to deliver “A Better Deal for Renters.” South Australia was the first to implement the reforms, with measures that reflect both the pressure of a tight rental market and growing demand for greater stability and rights among tenants.
The changes came into effect on 1 July 2024, with new rules giving tenants more notice and more clarity. Landlords must now provide 60 days’ notice—up from 28 days—to end a tenancy and must provide a reason. Acceptable grounds include breaches by the tenant, planned renovations, an intention to sell, or to move in themselves. For tenants, the extra time and transparency offer a degree of security that didn’t exist before.
There has also been a change in how pet ownership is treated in rentals. Tenants can now keep pets, provided they agree to reasonable conditions such as professional carpet cleaning when they move out. The reform removes a long-standing tension where tenants were often forced to choose between a home and a companion animal.
Another major shift is the introduction of minimum housing standards. For many tenants, this has meant tangible improvements to their living conditions. In addition, victims of domestic violence now have new protections, including the right to terminate a lease immediately or change the locks without delay.
The reforms also tackled the financial side of renting. South Australians leasing homes that cost less than $800 a week now pay a four-week bond instead of six. The government estimates that this has saved tenants around $92 million since it was rolled out in April 2023. More than 56,000 bonds have been lodged with Consumer and Business Services in the past year, showing widespread uptake.
Minister Andrea Michaels, who led the reforms, says they were shaped through consultation with housing bodies and the real estate sector. “South Australians shouldn’t have to choose between a pet and a home. Nor should they be evicted with no reason and little notice,” she said.
Michaels added, “We led the nation in our approach and we worked hard to strike the right balance. In collaboration with organisations such as REISA, we introduced a balanced set of reforms that have improved security for tenants while ensuring landlords’ rights are respected—and we have seen that successfully in practice over the past year.”
That sentiment was echoed by Andrea Heading, Chief Executive of the Real Estate Institute of South Australia, who said the new laws reflected careful negotiation. “We worked collaboratively with the Minister and our members to ensure that the reforms in South Australia are equitably balanced and protect the interests of both landlords and tenants. Over the past year, we have seen that our work together successfully resulted in the most balanced laws in the nation.”
The reforms come at a time when rental stress is increasingly common, particularly for young people, low-income households and single parents. With the cost of living rising, the ability to plan ahead in rental situations has become more important than ever.
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