Moving out
Terminating the lease
Security bond refund
Finally
Terminating the lease
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You cannot break a lease without penalty, if you have a Fixed Term lease, unless you come to a mutual agreement with the landlord.
If you have a Periodic lease, then you are required to give at least 21 days notice of your intention to leave or a notice equal to a single rental period (whichever is longer), eg. if you pay rent monthly, then a months notice is required, unless the landlord agrees otherwise.
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If you are on a fixed term lease and you want to leave before the end date, you can assign and transfer your lease to another person who is willing to take over the property. You must get the landlord's written consent but this cannot be unreasonably withheld and the landlord cannot charge a fee exceeding reasonable expenses. No fee can be charged to you for assigning.
Note: Without the landlord's consent you will remain liable for the agreement.
Security bond refund
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Before the exit inspection, you need to clean the property, otherwise you may lose part of your bond for cleaning fees.
Note: You are under no obligation to have carpets and windows professionally cleaned. This condition is used by some landlords, but it is contrary to the Residential Tenancies Act 1995.
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For international students, try to avoid doing your exit inspection on the same day you are leaving the country. Although you don't need to be in Adelaide to claim your bond refund, any issues with your bond or refund will be more difficult to deal with if you are not in Australia.
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If your landlord/agent does not agree to return your full bond without good reason, contact the Tenancies Branch for advice.
Note: Do not sign the Bond Refund Form if you do not agree with the amount to be refunded and never sign a blank document.
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Once your landlord/agent and you are satisfied with the exit inspection and agree on the amount of bond money to be refunded, both of you sign a Bond Refund Form. You can take this form to the Tenancies Branch and have a cheque paid out to you or credited to your bank account.
However, you can also apply for your security bond refund independently. Please refer to the Tenancies Branch website for more details.
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If you are leaving a sharehouse where you have a co-tenancy arrangement, make sure that you get your share of the bond before signing the Change of Tenants form.
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Ensure you receive your bond refund. Advise the Tenancies Branch and your real estate agent/landlord of your new address, as soon as you move out.
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Don't be tempted to leave your furniture or belongings behind. The landlord may charge you for the removal or storage of abandoned goods which will affect your bond refund. You can find storage providers in the Yellow Pages.
Finally
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At the end of your tenancy agreement, remember to ask for a reference letter from your Real Estate Agent or Landlord.
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Ensure that a final reading of utility meters (i.e. electricity, phone, gas) is taken when you vacate the property (give at least 48 hours notice for any reading). Failure to do this may result in you paying for services accrued since the last meter reading (even if you have left the property).
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Organise a mail redirection with Australia Post and change your address on the University MyUniSA system or contact Campus Central.