Rules about pets
If a tenant wants to keep an animal as a pet at their property, there are rules they must meet to be able to keep the pet.
If a tenant wants to start keeping a pet on or after 1 December 2025, they must request a pet consent. If the landlord approves, they can set certain conditions the tenant has to meet, for example to pay a pet bond. If the landlord declines, they must have a valid reason.
If a tenant started keeping a pet before 1 December 2025, there are different rules that apply to them.
In this section
If a tenant wants to keep an animal as a pet at their property, the tenant and landlord should agree it is a pet. Find out what is considered a pet and the exemptions for disability assist dogs.
If a tenant wants to start keeping a pet at the property on or after 1 December 2025, they need to request consent. Find out the steps tenants and landlords must take when requesting pet consent.
If a landlord approves a pet consent request, they can set certain conditions that a tenant must meet. The conditions must be reasonable.
If a landlord declines a pet consent request, they must have a valid reason. If they do not have one, they could receive a financial penalty. A valid reason is called reasonable grounds.
Pet rules changed on 1 December 2025. If a tenant started keeping a pet before this date that was approved by the landlord, some of the new rules do not apply.
