Meet Otto. He is a 10-month-old labrador who, even on the best of days, can be very mischievous. Although he is a cherished member of the flat, many landlords would not be happy with Otto’s antics around their rented property. There is, however, good news for Otto and other four‑legged tenants: from 1 December 2025, renters will be able to include pets in their tenancy arrangements.
Including pets in tenancies
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 now permits tenants to keep pets at rental properties with the landlord’s consent. It further provides that landlords must not include blanket no‑pet clauses in tenancy agreements, except where there are reasonable grounds for doing so.
The RTA does not define exactly what a pet is. However, it notes that disability assistance dogs are excluded from consent and pet bonds requirements, so permission is not needed and a pet bond cannot be charged for these dogs. This broad definition may open avenues for renters with birds, aquariums or even geckos! However, keeping pets is contingent on the landlord’s written consent. A landlord may, on reasonable grounds, withhold consent if they deem the species or size of the pet unsuitable for the premises.
Landlord’s consent?
What makes these reforms tenant friendly is that landlords may only withhold consent on reasonable grounds. These grounds include suitability of premises, suitability of pets, and their propensity for causing damage to the premises or disruption to the neighbours. Beyond such reasonable conditions, landlords cannot withhold consent for keeping pets at the property, making these reforms tenant and furry friend friendly.
Reasonable conditions?
With great rights come great responsibilities, as tenants are responsible for maintaining reasonable conditions for keeping pets. Such conditions include restraining the pets while a landlord lawfully enters the premises and requiring carpets to be cleaned to a professional standard at the end of the tenancy. But the overarching test is a factual inquiry, requiring the decision maker (ie, the tenancy tribunal adjudicator) to assess what would be a reasonable condition for a tenant to keep pets at the premises.
Pet bonds
Landlords may require tenants to pay a pet bond (in addition to a regular bond) for an amount not exceeding two weeks’ rent. Who pays for pet-related damage?
Tenants will be fully responsible for any pet-related damage to the property beyond fair wear and tear, even after the tenancy ends. Recovery may be difficult from the landlord’s perspective where the tenant has little means to satisfy any damage related claims, as the pet bond is limited to two weeks’ rent.
What’s next?
While this is welcome news, the amendments coming into effect from 1 December 2025 do not automatically permit tenants to keep pets. Tenants must still seek the landlord’s written consent in beginning a new tenancy agreement or varying an existing tenancy agreement. Failure to do so will result in a breach of the existing tenancy agreement and may expose the tenant to Tenancy Tribunal proceedings.
Chloe Wilson, Associate E: chloe.wilson@swlegal.co.nz
STEINDLE WILLIAMS LEGAL, Level 2, Suite 2.1, 18 Sale Street, T: 09 361 5563, www.swlegal.co.nz
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, readers should not rely on this article as a substitute for professional legal advice.
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