Under section 103A of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA), a person must not carry on a business providing accommodation by designated rooming house agreements unless they are registered [s 103B]. Registrations are required from 30 November 2024 [Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2010 (SA) reg 23].

Applications for registration may be made to Consumer and Business Services accompanied by the prescribed fee [s 103C]. The Commissioner for Consumer Affairs must be satisfied that the proprietor (or each director in the case of a body corporate) is a fit and proper person to be registered and has appropriate qualifications or experience [s 103C(3)]. Registrations may be conditional or unconditional. The Commissioner may cancel or suspend a proprietor's registration if they are no longer a fit and proper person to be registered (28 days notice must be provided unless delay may cause a person to suffer significant harm, loss or damage [s 103F]. A proprietor may apply to SACAT for review of any decision to refuse, cancel or suspend their registration [s 103G].

Designated rooming house proprietors must notify the Commissioner within 14 days if their name, address, or the address of their designated rooming houses change [s 103E(1)]. They must also notify if they cease to carry on the business [s 103E(2) and (3)].

For more information about registration for proprietors of designated rooming houses, please refer to Consumer and Business Services SA.GOV.AU website - Rooming house proprietors.