Changes to Pet Management in Rental Properties

From 1 December 2025, new rules under the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 change how pets are managed in rental properties.

Harcourts has developed a pet policy to ensure consistency when applying these new rules. It provides a clear and transparent process for both landlords and tenants, helping everyone understand their rights, responsibilities, and the steps involved when a tenant requests consent to keep a pet.

Key Points:

• Applies to new tenancies commencing on or after 1 December 2025
• Applies to existing tenancies where the tenant makes a formal request to keep a pet
• Applies to specific named pet/s, not just any and all pets
• A pet bond of up to two weeks’ rent, in addition to the existing four-week bond may be taken
• A pet bond is per tenancy not per pet.
• Tenants need written consent from their landlord
• Landlords must respond to full and complete requests within 21 days
• Landlords may refuse consent on reasonable grounds.
• Landlords may attach reasonable conditions to their consent
• Reasonable conditions may be challenged at Tenancy Tribunal and may therefore be determined through case law over time.
• Tenants will be liable for the full cost of pet-related damage that is not fair wear and tear.
• All tenants are jointly and severally liable for pet related damage and costs, regardless of who owns the pet.
• Each application must be considered on its own merits - blanket “no pets” policies are no longer permitted.
• Disability assist dogs are always permitted and exempt from conditions or pet bonds.

Existing Pets
Tenants who already have a pet will not need new consent and cannot be charged a pet bond if they already have permission to keep their pet(s), or their tenancy agreement allows pets, or the tenancy agreement is silent on pets.

When a Tenant Requests to Keep a Pet
Tenants must complete a very detailed Pet Application. It must include:

• Full details of the pet (species, breed, age, sex, desexing and microchipping status, and registration).
• Evidence of compliance with relevant council bylaws.
• Description of where and how the pet will live (indoor/outdoor, toileting, containment, etc).
• Conditions the tenant proposes, in addition to the conditions imposed by the landlord.
• Supporting information such as vet records or rental history.

Once the application is complete, your property manager will review it and provide you with The Harcourts Guide to Reasonable Grounds for Refusal to guide lawful decision-making and make a recommendation to you outlining risks, practical considerations, or proposed conditions. The guide can be found at the top of this page.

Once the landlord’s decision is confirmed, your property manager must notify the tenant in writing, outlining the reason(s) for refusal if declined, any conditions if approved and the next steps, including signing the pet agreement and payment of the pet bond.

Variation of Conditions
Conditions may be reviewed or varied if the property or pet circumstances change. Any variation must be agreed to in writing by both the landlord and the tenant.

Breach of Conditions
If the tenant breaches any agreed conditions, and does not remedy the breach, the landlord may make an application to the tenancy tribunal to have the pet removed and/or have the tenancy terminated.

Rent Increases or Decreases:
The pet bond amount can be adjusted in line with any rent increase or decrease, maintaining consistency with the proportion of rent held as bond.

During the Tenancy

• Compliance with pet-related conditions will be monitored.
• Damage, odour, or hygiene issues identified must be rectified immediately, using qualified tradespeople when needed, and to the landlord’s satisfaction. The tenant is required to rectify pet related damage during the tenancy and not wait until the end of the tenancy.
• The tenant must maintain cleanliness, manage waste appropriately, and ensure the pet does not cause nuisance or disturbance.
• Evidence of continued compliance with all council bylaws must be provided on request.
• If fleas or parasites arise as a result of keeping a pet, the tenant must arrange and pay for fumigation or pest treatment by a qualified contractor.
• Tenants must not allow the pet to restrict or delay access to the premises by any authorised person entering under Section 48 and will be responsible for any costs incurred if access is restricted because of the presence of the pet.

Examples of Reasonable Conditions

• Consent applies only to the specific pet(s) named
• Unapproved and/or visiting pets are not permitted for any length of time
• Breeding is not permitted
• No damage, odour, nuisance, or hygiene issues that affect the property or neighbouring properties
• Professional carpet cleaning during the tenancy if carpets become noticeably dirty, stained, or develop pet-related odours
• Professional carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy
• All cleaning must be completed by a professional carpet-cleaning company
• Tenants must not erect new fencing or commit to fencing where the Fencing Act 1978 applies.
• The landlord may specify areas of the property where the pet must be contained, or areas that the pet is not permitted to access
• Comply with the Animal Welfare Act 1999, Dog Control Act 1996 and Local Council Bylaws
• Where the property is subject to body corporate rules or other bylaws, the tenant must ensure full compliance is liable for any penalties arising from a breach.

Minor Changes – Section 42B RTA (e.g. Pet Doors)
Installation of a pet door is considered a minor change under section 42B of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. This type of change allows the tenant to request an alteration that does not affect the structure or safety of the property and can be easily reversed.
The following conditions apply to any request for a dog or cat door:

• Location and design must be approved by the landlord in writing before work begins. The tenant pays all costs.
• A qualified tradesperson must complete the work and it must be compliant.
• At end of tenancy whether the pet door remains or is removed is at the landlord’s discretion. If removal is required the area must be reinstated to substantially the same original condition.

When a Pet Leaves the Property:

• If an approved pet permanently leaves the property, it is no longer considered part of the tenancy.
• Upon request from the tenant, the pet bond must be refunded in accordance with section 22BA of the RTA. The refund must be made as soon as practicable once both parties agree.
• Before refunding the bond, the property manager will first carry out an inspection of the property. The tenant must be advised that this inspection is limited to visible damage at the time of inspection. The refund does not release the tenant from liability for any later-identified damage resulting from keeping the pet.

Tenant Liability, Damage and Insurance
Tenants are responsible for all pet-related damage, without limitation.

• The tenant is fully responsible for pet-related damage whether caused directly by the pet or arising from its presence at the property.
• Damage to the premises resulting from keeping a pet must be repaired by the tenant, at their cost, as soon as it is identified and to the landlord’s satisfaction.
• All tenants named on the tenancy agreement are jointly and severally liable for the pet-related damage, regardless of which tenant owns or cares for the pet.
• Pet-related damage is not considered fair wear and tear under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
• The tenant is strongly encouraged to hold contents insurance that provides cover for pet-related damage or liability. This protects the tenant in situations where the damage occurs as a result of keeping a pet, even if the pet did not directly cause it.
• Where the landlord’s insurance is used to remedy pet-related damage, the tenant may be required to reimburse any excess or associated costs.
• The landlord is under no obligation to claim on their insurance any pet-related damage.
• In some cases, it may be advantageous to claim under insurance as an insurer will likely replace with new, whereas tenancy tribunal will likely determine a compensation amount based on depreciation.

When a Tenant Vacates and Has a Pet
When a tenancy ends and a pet has been kept at the property, the following steps apply:

• The tenant must meet all conditions
• All pet-related damage must be repaired to the landlord’s satisfaction.
• Any outstanding damage as a result of keeping a pet should be repaired with the cost deducted from the pet bond and/or general bond. Note that if the pet bond is not enough to cover the damage, the general bond can be used.
• If the tenant has not complied with the conditions or caused additional damage, the landlord may seek compensation through the Tenancy Tribunal.

So as you can see, there is a lot of responsibility upon tenants and a lot of safeguards in place for landlords. Seven weeks rent (four weeks standard bond + two weeks pet bond + one week in advance) is also a lot of cash to come up with to get into a rental property so time will tell how many tenants seek to get pets.