From 1 October 2022, pet approval and refusal has changed to include the following:

• Properties can no longer be advertised as “no pets allowed”.
• Lessors must respond to pet requests within 14 days – or their approval will be deemed.
• Lessors can only refuse a pet request on prescribed grounds, and they must give reasons to the tenant for why they believe those grounds apply.
• Lessors can impose conditions on a pet approval in line with the prescribed requirements.

Grounds to refuse a pet could include:

• The rental property is unsuitable for the proposed pet.
• The pet poses an unacceptable risk to health and safety.
• Keeping the pet would breach laws, by-laws or park rules

Keeping a pet may be subject to conditions such as:

• They must be reasonable in regard to the type of pet and nature of premises.
• Conditions must be included in the lessor’s written approval.
• They are void if they increase the rent or bond, require a form of security
• Examples of reasonable conditions:

1. If the pet is not a type of pet ordinarily kept inside – a condition requiring the pet to be kept outside at the premises.
2. if the pet is capable of carrying parasites that could infest the premises – a condition requiring the premises to be professionally fumigated at the end of the tenancy.
3. if the pet is allowed inside the premises – a condition requiring carpets in the premises to be professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy.

Generally our experience with tenants that have pets in the property is that these tenants are very responsible and take care of the property and often stay in that property longer.