Since 1 December 2025, tenants can make a written request to keep a pet in a rental property. A landlord can only refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet if it has reasonable grounds to do so.
In May 2026, the Tenancy Tribunal set out a two-stage test for determining whether a landlord’s refusal to grant consent is reasonable.
The first stage is assessing why consent was withheld and the reasons that were given. The second stage is an assessment of the reasonableness of that decision: can a reasonable landlord, having regard to the text and purpose of the pet consent rules, withhold consent?
A landlord must consider a request, must respond in writing, and cannot refuse consent without reasonable grounds or attach an unreasonable condition.
A landlord cannot rely on hypothetical grounds or generalised concerns. Any grounds relied upon by a landlord should be supported by rational evidence, connected to the specific pet the request relates to, the premises and any relevant circumstances.
A landlord cannot simply impose a blanket ban on, for example, dogs. They should make inquiries into the characteristics and/or breed of the dog.
Simply relying on factors such as lack of fencing or outdoor areas, risk of mess on decks, close proximity to neighbours (including shared walls in townhouse complexes), or a risk of barking/noise is not sufficient. Those grounds are not reasonable without having first considered the pet the request is about.
A landlord can impose reasonable conditions. These can include (but are not limited to):
- The tenant paying a pet bond of two weeks;
- The tenant supervising a dog when it is in a communal area;
- The tenant ensuring a cat has access to a litter box;
- The tenant ensuring the pet has access to adequate food and water;
- The tenant installing temporary fencing and/or barriers on decks/stairs;
- The tenant having the carpets professionally cleaned (including treatment for fleas) at the end of the tenancy.
A tenant’s general obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act remain, regardless of whether a landlord has consented to a pet, including keeping the premises reasonably clean and tidy, notifying the landlord of damage, and to not interfere with the reasonable peace, comfort and privacy of another person in the neighbourhood.
If you are a landlord or a tenant and you are looking for advice in relation to a request to keep a pet in a residential tenancy, contact Harmans today on (03) 379 7835.
