South Australia Rental Security Locks — Windows and Doors

What SA Law Requires for Locks on Rental Properties

The Housing Improvement Regulations 2017 set specific lock and security requirements for every residential rental in South Australia. Under Regulation 12, your property must meet three standards simultaneously:

External doors must have key-operated locks on the outside and be unlockable from inside without a key. This means deadbolts that require a key from the interior side fail — a tenant must be able to exit in an emergency without hunting for keys.

External windows must have functioning latches. The regulation doesn't prescribe a particular latch type, but the window must be securable when closed.

Emergency egress must be unimpeded. A person must be able to leave the dwelling without needing a key.

These requirements apply from the day the tenant moves in. Under Section 67A of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995, letting a property that fails prescribed minimum housing standards carries a maximum penalty of $25,000 or an expiation fee of $1,200.

The Most Common Lock Failures

Three issues come up repeatedly in pre-let inspections:

Deadbolts keyed on both sides. Older properties often have double-cylinder deadbolts on the front door. The exterior cylinder is fine, but the interior side must turn without a key. Replace the interior cylinder with a thumb-turn or swap the lock entirely.

Painted-shut or broken window latches. Sash windows in pre-war properties are notorious for this. If the latch mechanism is seized, the window doesn't meet the standard even if it closes. Test every window — open, close, latch.

Sliding door locks that don't engage. The track is worn, the roller mechanism is off-centre, or the lock tongue doesn't reach the keep. Sliding doors are external doors and must have a functioning keyed lock.

Rooming Houses Have Additional Requirements

If your property is a designated rooming house, Regulation 16 of the HIR 2017 adds bedroom-level security:

• Each bedroom must have a key-operated lock
• Bedrooms must have window coverings for privacy
• Minimum floor space of 7.5 m² per bedroom
• At least 2 electrical power points per bedroom

These are on top of the standard external door and window requirements that apply to all rentals.

Who Can Change Locks?

A locksmith doesn't need a trade licence from Consumer and Business Services — locksmithing isn't a prescribed trade under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Electricians Act 1995. But if the lock replacement involves electrical work (an electronic or smart lock wired into the mains), a licensed electrician must do the wiring and issue an eCoC to the Office of the Technical Regulator.

Under Section 66 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995, neither the landlord nor tenant may add, remove or change a lock without the other's consent, and neither may unreasonably withhold consent. If consent is unreasonably withheld, the tenant can apply to SACAT under Section 66B to change the lock without consent. Section 66A provides a separate lock-change process for a protected person in certain domestic-abuse or personal-safety situations; the person must give the landlord a key and a copy or certified extract of the relevant order as soon as practicable.

Practical Checklist Before Letting

Walk the property and test every entry point:

1. Front door — key-operated lock outside, thumb-turn or knob inside, door closes and latches securely
2. Back door — same standard as front door
3. Sliding doors — keyed lock engages fully, anti-lift pin or security bar in place
4. All external windows — latches operate smoothly, windows close fully against the frame
5. Emergency egress — confirm at least one exit per level opens without a key from inside
6. Rooming house bedrooms (if applicable) — individual keyed lock on each bedroom door

Document the condition of every lock on the CBS property inspection sheet at the start of the tenancy. Photograph lock mechanisms where wear is visible — this protects you if a tenant later claims the lock was faulty at move-in.

The SA Rental Minimum Standards Guide maps every security requirement to the relevant regulation and includes the pre-let inspection index, so you can audit locks alongside weatherproofing, ventilation and every other standard in one pass.

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