Pet Bond South Australia: Why Landlords Cannot Charge One

Pet bonds are illegal in South Australia — no exceptions, no workarounds, no disguised alternatives. Since the 1 July 2024 rental reforms, Section 66C of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 explicitly prohibits landlords from demanding a separate pet bond, a higher general bond because of a pet, or any financial security as a condition for approving a pet in a rental property.

Demanding more than one bond or a bond above the statutory limit under Section 61 carries a maximum penalty of $35,000, with a $2,000 expiation fee. A separate pet bond is prohibited.

What Landlords Can Do Instead

The prohibition covers financial security, not all pet conditions. Under Section 66C(9)(c), if a tenant is approved to keep a pet inside the premises, the landlord can lawfully impose a reasonable condition requiring carpets to be professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy.

This is narrower than it sounds. The condition applies only to carpet cleaning (not general cleaning) and only to indoor pets. It must be stated in the written pet approval or in a later written notice under Section 66C(7).

Outside of that specific carpet cleaning clause, the normal fair-wear-and-tear rules apply. Pet damage that goes beyond normal wear — scratched doors, chewed window frames, stained floorboards — is claimable through the standard bond at the end of the tenancy, subject to depreciation. But you cannot charge a separate upfront payment to cover that risk.

The General Bond Still Covers Pet Damage

Your standard rental bond (maximum 4 weeks' rent for properties at $800 per week or less, 6 weeks above $800) applies to all damage, including damage caused by pets. If the tenant's dog scratches the floorboards, you claim it through the normal end-of-tenancy process: compare the move-in condition report against the exit inspection, document the damage with photographs, and file a claim through CBS or SACAT.

The bond cap is the same whether the tenant has pets or not. There is no higher bond tier for pet-approved tenancies.

What If Damage Exceeds the Bond?

If pet damage (or any damage) exceeds the value of the lodged bond, you claim the full bond through CBS and then apply to SACAT for a monetary order covering the remaining amount. This is the same process for any bond shortfall — pets do not create a separate legal pathway.

The SA Rental Bond Guide covers the end-of-tenancy claim process for all damage types, including how to structure evidence and calculate depreciation-adjusted amounts for items damaged by pets.

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