Articles on: Landlord questions

How to lodge the bond in SA

In SA you can lodge online in RBO without handling money. Create a bond payment request in the portal and send it to your tenant — they pay their bond by debit/credit card inside RBO. You’ll both get email notifications and a bond number/receipt when it’s lodged. If you do take money directly (not recommended), you must lodge it within 2 weeks.


Authority/portal: Consumer and Business Services (Residential Bonds Online — RBO)

Phone: 131 882

Start here: Lodging a bond (SA.GOV.AU): https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/housing/renting-and-letting/residential-bonds/lodging-a-bond

RBO user portal: https://www.cbs.sa.gov.au/sections/renting/bonds/rbo-user-portal

Create / sign in: Consumer portal (landlords/individuals): https://portal.cbs.sa.gov.au/consumer/s/login/

Manual option: Bond lodgement form (PDF): https://www.cbs.sa.gov.au/documents/tenancy/forms/Bond-lodgement-form.pdf


Before you start


  • Tenancy basics: address, start date, weekly rent, bond amount (usually up to 4 weeks’ rent; up to 6 weeks if weekly rent is above the threshold).
  • Each tenant’s full name, email and mobile.
  • Be ready to complete ID verification (RBO uses the national Document Verification Service for landlords and tenants).



  1. Create / sign in to the Consumer portal and open Residential Bonds Online.
  2. Choose Lodge a bond and enter property + tenancy details (bond total, start date, rent).
  3. Add tenant(s) with a unique email each and send a payment request.
  4. Tenant receives an email/SMS, activates their RBO access, and pays by card inside RBO. Each person can pay their own contribution.
  5. You’ll see the bond move to lodged and receive a bond number + receipt by email. Keep this with your tenancy file.


Path B — Tenant lodges (their RBO account)


  • Tenants can lodge and pay the bond from their own RBO account using a debit/credit card. You’ll be notified in RBO when they link you to the tenancy and the bond is lodged.


Path C — Manual email/post (only if not using RBO)


  1. Download the Bond lodgement form (PDF).
  2. Both landlord and tenant sign the form.
  3. Pay by direct debit (authorise on the form) or send a cheque/money order payable to Residential Tenancies Fund; submit by email or post as instructed on the form.
  4. You’ll receive a receipt/bond number by email when processed.


Timing & compliance


  • If you receive the bond from the tenant, you must lodge within 2 weeks.
  • Give the tenant a receipt within 48 hours if they pay you directly.
  • RBO supports split payments and keeps an audit trail; paper forms require both parties’ signatures.


Keep for your records


  • Bond number/receipt email, tenancy agreement, and condition report.
  • If using paper, a copy of the signed Bond lodgement form and payment proof.

Updated on: 17/09/2025

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