Pet rules for NZ rental properties: what changed in 2025

The landscape has shifted

For years, most landlords included a "no pets" clause and that was the end of it. That changed with the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024, which introduced a new framework effective from mid-2025. The changes don't give tenants an unrestricted right to keep pets, but landlords can no longer issue a blanket prohibition without grounds.

What the law says now

Under the amended Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (RTA), the key change is this: a landlord cannot unreasonably decline a tenant's request to keep a pet at the property.

The operative word is "unreasonably." The law does not require landlords to accept all pets in all circumstances. It creates a framework where the tenant makes a written request, the landlord considers it, and if declining, must provide a reasonable justification.

How the request process works

The process follows a clear structure:

1. The tenant makes a written request describing the type, number, and relevant details of the pet.
2. The landlord has 21 working days to respond in writing — approving, approving with conditions, or declining with reasons.
3. If the tenant disagrees with a decline, they can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal.

If the landlord fails to respond within 21 working days, the request is deemed approved. Landlords cannot simply ignore pet requests.

When can you reasonably say no?

The legislation does not provide an exhaustive list of reasonable grounds for declining a pet, but the explanatory materials and early Tribunal guidance suggest the following are likely to be accepted:

• The property is unsuitable for the type of pet. A large dog in a small apartment with no outdoor space, for example, may be reasonably declined. Similarly, a pet that requires significant outdoor space in a property that has none.

• Body corporate or council restrictions. If the property is subject to body corporate rules that prohibit pets, or local council bylaws that restrict certain animals, this is a reasonable ground for declining.

• The specific animal poses a genuine risk. If the tenant is requesting to keep a breed with a documented history of aggression, or an animal that is not suited to a residential environment, the landlord may have grounds to decline.

• Significant property damage risk that cannot be mitigated. If the landlord can demonstrate that the specific pet is likely to cause damage that goes beyond what reasonable conditions could address, this may support a decline. However, this is a high bar — the law expects landlords to consider conditions rather than default to refusal.

Grounds unlikely to hold up include a general preference for no pets, speculative concerns about noise or smell, or previous bad experiences with other tenants' pets.

Reasonable conditions

Rather than declining outright, landlords can approve a pet request subject to conditions. Reasonable conditions might include professional carpet cleaning at end of tenancy, keeping the pet outside or restricted from certain rooms, fencing or containment requirements, regular flea treatment, or maintaining lawns and gardens.

What you cannot do is require a separate pet bond. The maximum bond remains four weeks' rent under section 18 of the RTA, with no provision for additional pet-specific deposits.

Protecting your property

The inability to charge a pet bond is the change that concerns most landlords. Without a financial buffer specifically for pet damage, how do you protect your investment?

The answer lies in a combination of conditions, documentation, and insurance:

Set clear conditions upfront

When approving a pet request, put the conditions in writing. Be specific about expectations — professional carpet cleaning, garden maintenance, containment requirements. These conditions become part of the tenancy arrangement and are enforceable.

Document the property's condition

A thorough property condition report at the start of the tenancy is always important, but it becomes essential when pets are involved. Photograph carpets, doors, window frames, garden areas, and any surfaces that might be affected by a pet. Do the same at the end of the tenancy.

If pet damage occurs, this documentation is your evidence for a bond claim or Tribunal application. Without it, proving that damage was caused by the pet rather than being pre-existing or fair wear and tear becomes very difficult.

Check your insurance

Many landlord insurance policies now offer cover for pet damage, either as standard or as an optional add-on. Review your policy and consider upgrading if necessary. Providers like Initio and Tower have updated their products to reflect the new legislative environment.

Conduct regular inspections

Under the RTA, you can inspect the property up to once every four weeks with at least 48 hours' written notice. Regular inspections allow you to identify any developing issues — damage to carpets, scratching on doors, overgrown gardens — before they become serious.

Keeping a record of inspections and any pet-related observations is straightforward if you have a system for it. Tools like keel let you log inspection notes and photos against the property, giving you a clear trail if issues arise later.

What about existing "no pets" clauses?

Existing blanket "no pets" clauses may no longer be enforceable. The amendment applies to all tenancies governed by the RTA, not just new ones. A tenant can submit a written pet request regardless of what the tenancy agreement says — the statutory framework overrides the clause.

Disputes and the Tenancy Tribunal

If a tenant believes their pet request was unreasonably declined, they can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal. The Tribunal will assess whether the landlord responded on time, whether the reasons were reasonable, and whether conditions were considered as an alternative to declining. If the refusal is found unreasonable, the Tribunal can order the landlord to allow the pet and may award compensation.

Early Tribunal decisions are still establishing the boundaries of "reasonableness." The safest approach is to engage genuinely with each request, consider conditions before declining, and document your reasoning.

Final thoughts

The pet rules are a significant change for New Zealand landlords, and there's no getting around that. The days of a simple "no pets" clause are over. But the new framework is not as alarming as it first appears — you still have the right to decline requests on reasonable grounds, you can impose practical conditions, and you can protect your property through documentation, insurance, and regular inspections.

The landlords who will fare best are those who approach pet requests pragmatically. A well-behaved cat or a small dog in a suitable property, with clear conditions in place, is unlikely to cause problems — and saying yes might help you attract and retain good tenants in a competitive rental market.