Rental Rights and Responsibilities

As a tenant you have certain rights, but you also have responsibilities – as does your landlord.

The responsibilities of each party are set out in the Residential Tenancy Information Brochure. It is the responsibility of your landlord or property manager (if the property is being leased through an agency) to provide you with a copy before you sign your rental lease.

Contents

• Lease agreement
• Extending and ending leases
• Maintaining your rental property
• Insurance
• Making changes to your rental property
• Solving disputes

 

Lease agreement

A lease agreement (or tenancy agreement) is a legally binding, written contract signed by both the tenant and landlord. It specifies a range of obligations such as the amount, frequency and method in which rent should be paid; type and duration of tenancy (fixed-term or periodic); and other conditions that detail the rights and responsibilities of both parties. The terms of the lease agreement cannot be changed, unless both parties agree to the change. This includes the amount of rent, unless a specific condition is included in the agreement before it is signed.

More information about what should be included in your lease agreement is available on sa.gov.au.

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Extending and ending leases

Towards the end of a rental lease period (usually six or 12 months), the landlord can issue a notice of lease extension or you can enter a new lease agreement if both of you are happy for a rental arrangement to continue. If you or the landlord don’t wish to extend the lease, written notice must be given. Notice must also be provided by the tenant or landlord to end a periodic lease.

Details on the amount of notice that must be provided and the circumstances in which it is required are available on sa.gov.au.

If you’re ready to move out and move on, use this moving out checklist to avoid end of tenancy disputes, unexpected costs and affecting your ability to secure rental accommodation in future.