South Australia’s Tenancy Reforms: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know

South Australia’s rental laws are set for major updates from 1 September 2025, with changes designed to provide greater clarity and consistency for both landlords and tenants. These reforms cover how tenancies can be ended in certain circumstances, and how applications for rental properties will be standardised.

At Allan Real Estate, we believe it’s important that everyone—landlords, tenants, and agents—understands how these changes may affect them.

New Ground for Non-Renewal of Tenancy

One of the most significant reforms is the introduction of a new prescribed ground for not renewing a tenancy. From 1 September 2025, landlords or agents will be able to not renew a fixed-term tenancy or end a periodic tenancy if they have entered into a sales agency agreement with a registered real estate agent that requires the property to be vacant.

To use this ground, the law requires:

• A minimum of 60 days’ written notice to the tenant.
• A signed and dated sales agency agreement to support the notice.

This reform provides clarity and structure for both parties. Landlords who wish to sell have a defined process to follow, while tenants are assured of fair notice and time to plan for a move.

Introduction of the Form A1 Rental Application

The second key reform relates to rental applications. A new standardised application form, Form A1, will be introduced from 1 September 2025, and it will become mandatory from 1 January 2026.

This means:

• Each prospective tenant will complete their own Form A1 when applying for a rental property.
• The form will be consistent across all rental applications, creating a fairer and more transparent process.
• Applicants will also be able to indicate their preferred tenancy term, supporting clearer communication between tenants, landlords, and agents.

For landlords, this standardisation helps create consistency in the information provided. For tenants, it ensures that everyone is assessed on the same criteria, improving transparency and reducing confusion.

What This Means for the Rental Market

These reforms reflect the government’s effort to create a more consistent and balanced rental environment in South Australia. By clarifying the circumstances under which a tenancy can end and by standardising the way applications are made, both landlords and tenants are given clearer expectations and processes to follow.

At Allan Real Estate, our role is to help both landlords and tenants navigate these changes smoothly. We’ll continue to ensure that all notices, agreements, and applications are managed in line with the legislation, while supporting positive outcomes for everyone involved in the rental process.

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