Handling Pet Requests
A complete guide for Australia and New Zealand
Why Pet Request Rules Matter
When an existing tenant asks to keep a pet, the rules vary significantly by jurisdiction. Some states require landlords to have reasonable grounds to refuse, while others allow landlords to refuse for any reason. In some situations, landlords must respond to the request within a set amount of time or the pet is automatically approved by default.
This guide outlines what tenants must provide, what landlords can consider, and the exact rules for each state and New Zealand.
What Tenants Must Provide
Tenants only need to provide enough information for you to reasonably assess the request:
- Type of pet
- Breed, size, age (or enough information about the animal for you to assess the request)
What Landlords Can Consider
You may assess:
- Suitability of the property (space, fencing, flooring, noise sensitivity)
- Body corporate or strata rules
- The pet's behaviour and history
- Potential for damage or nuisance
What You Can Require If You Approve the Pet
If you approve the pet, you can set reasonable conditions related to the pet's care and behaviour. However, you cannot impose conditions that are unreasonable or discriminatory.
- Pet-related cleaning at end of tenancy (if soiling occurs)
- Flea treatment (if the pet is capable of carrying fleas)
- Repair of pet-related damage
- Reasonable pet behaviour conditions
Extra bond for pets (pet bond) is not allowed anywhere except in Western Australia where extra bond of up to $260 can be taken for cleaning/fumigation only.
Location Based Rules
VIC, QLD, ACT, NSW — Cannot Unreasonably Refuse
These jurisdictions have formal pet-request processes and require you to have reasonable grounds to refuse. If you don't follow the process or meet the timeline, the pet may be automatically approved.
Victoria (VIC)
Time limit: 14 days to respond. If refusing you must apply to VCAT.
VCAT Process
- Tenant submits a written pet request
- Landlord has 14 days to respond
- If refusing, landlord must lodge an Application to VCAT – Pet Dispute
- VCAT decides whether refusal is reasonable
- Important: If the landlord does not apply to VCAT, the pet is automatically approved
Reasonable Grounds to Refuse
- Property unsuitable (no fencing, unsafe balconies, fragile flooring)
- Pet is prohibited or restricted
- Pet breaches body corporate rules
- Genuine safety risk
- Keeping the pet would cause unreasonable hardship (serious financial costs or other substantial negative impacts beyond minor inconveniences)
Queensland (QLD)
Time limit: 14 days to respond in writing to the tenant's request (Form 21). Your response must approve or refuse and include any conditions or the reason for refusal.
Automatic approval: If you do not respond within 14 days, or your response does not meet the legislative requirements, the pet is automatically approved.
Refusal reasons: Refusals must be for prescribed reasons under the RTRA Act. See the RTA renting-with-pets guidance for the current list.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Time limit: No strict statutory time limit to respond, but refusal requires applying to ACAT promptly.
ACAT Process
- Tenant submits a pet request
- If you wish to refuse, you must apply to ACAT for an order
- ACAT decides whether refusal is reasonable
- Important: Without an ACAT order, the tenant may keep the pet
Reasonable Grounds
- Property unsuitability
- Body corporate restrictions
- Health or safety risks
- Environmental risks
New South Wales (NSW)
Time limit: 21 days to respond. If refusing you must give a valid reason prescribed under legislation.
NSW Process
- Tenant submits a written pet request using the standard form
- Landlord must respond in writing within 21 days
- Automatic approval: If you do not respond within 21 days, the pet is automatically approved
- If refusing, you must provide a valid reason prescribed under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW)
Valid Refusal Reasons
- Property unsuitable (e.g., no fencing, unsafe areas)
- Pet is dangerous or prohibited
- Breach of strata or body corporate rules
- Health or safety risk
- Potential for damage or nuisance
South Australia (SA)
Time limit: 14 days to respond in writing to the tenant's request.
Effective: July 1, 2024 — SA changed from "refuse for any reason" to requiring specific grounds for refusal.
SA Process
- Tenant submits Application for approval to keep a pet on rental premises form
- Landlord must respond in writing within 14 days using Notice of response to pet application form
- Automatic approval: If you do not respond within 14 days, or if your response doesn't comply with legal requirements, the pet is automatically approved
- Response must include: approval/refusal decision, any reasonable conditions, or grounds for refusal with reasons
Valid Grounds for Refusal
- Keeping the pet would exceed a reasonable number of animals
- Premises unsuitable (lack of fencing, open space, or necessary items to humanely accommodate the pet)
- Pet poses unacceptable health/safety risk (e.g., venomous)
- Keeping the pet would contravene a law, council by-law, or strata/community title rules
- Tenant has not agreed to reasonable conditions proposed
- The animal is not a pet
Note: Landlords cannot state "no pets allowed" unless specifically prohibited by strata/community title/rooming house/park rules. Cannot charge a separate pet bond.
New Zealand (NZ)
Time limit: 21 days to respond in writing to the tenant's request.
Effective: December 1, 2025 — NZ changed from "refuse for any reason" to requiring reasonable grounds for refusal.
NZ Process
- Tenant submits written request to keep a pet (Section 42E RTA 1986)
- Landlord must respond in writing within 21 days of receiving the request
- Automatic approval: If you fail to respond within 21 days, or refuse without reasonable grounds, tenant may apply to Tenancy Tribunal
- Response must include: decision (consent or refusal), any reasonable conditions attached to consent, and if refusing, the reasonable grounds for refusal
Reasonable Grounds for Refusal (Section 42F)
- Pet would pose a danger to public health or safety
- Property unsuitable for keeping that type of pet
- Keeping the pet would exceed a reasonable number of pets
- Keeping the pet would contravene a law, bylaw, or body corporate rule
- Tenant has not agreed to reasonable conditions proposed by landlord (Section 42G)
- Tenant has previously failed to comply with reasonable pet conditions
Pet bond: NZ landlords may require a pet bond of up to 2 weeks' rent (Section 18AA). This is separate from the general bond.
Note: Landlord commits an unlawful act if refusing consent without reasonable grounds (Section 42E(6)), or attaching unreasonable conditions to consent.
You can refuse a tenants pet request for any reason in Tasmania (TAS), Western Australia (WA), Northern Territory (NT)
No statutory time limit or "reasonable grounds" requirement. You may refuse a pet request for any reason at any time. However, it's always good practice to respond promptly and document your decision.
Western Australia note: WA is the only Australian jurisdiction where a separate pet bond (up to $260) is permitted.
Tasmania note: The Residential Tenancy Amendment (Pets) Act 2025 commences on 20 March 2026, which will change TAS pet request rules.
New Zealand note: NZ changed from unrestricted refusal to formal approval process on December 1, 2025. See New Zealand section below.
Mint Takeaway
When an existing tenant requests a pet, the rules depend entirely on your jurisdiction:
- VIC, QLD, ACT, NSW, SA, NZ: You must have reasonable grounds to refuse, and strict processes apply (VCAT/ACAT/SACAT/Tenancy Tribunal or prescribed reasons). Missing deadlines can result in automatic approval or tribunal challenges.
- TAS, WA, NT: You may refuse for any reason. No formal process required.
- WA: Only Australian state with a pet bond (up to $260). NZ also allows pet bonds (up to 2 weeks' rent).
- SA: Changed from "refuse for any reason" to formal approval process on July 1, 2024.
- NZ: Changed from "refuse for any reason" to formal approval process on December 1, 2025. 21-day response required.
- Assistance animals: Must always be approved, regardless of jurisdiction.
Mint guides landlords through the correct process for their state, including time limits, required forms, compliant conditions, and automatic approval deadlines — so you never miss a critical date or step.