The Great Pet Debate

Following a recent presentation to the Point Property Management team at the Tenancy Masterclass Conference, one of the key outtakes was the change to rules around pets in tenancies.

For years, landlords could simply shut the door on pets.  But the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 has changed the rules.  Now, tenants can have a pet unless a landlord can show reasonable grounds to refuse. That might be a body corporate with a strict “no pets” policy, or the obvious mismatch of a Great Dane in a shoebox apartment with no backyard.

At first glance this feels like a big shift, but it’s also an opportunity.  Pet owners make up a huge slice of the renting population, and by opening your property to them you cast a much wider net.  Pet-friendly homes are snapped up faster, vacancy periods are shorter, and studies show tenants with pets often stay longer, which means fewer costly turnovers.

Landlords aren’t left unprotected.  Tenants remain fully liable for pet-related damage, and you can now ask for a dedicated pet bond of up to two weeks’ rent, held securely with MBIE just like the standard bond.

So yes, there may be a few extra paw prints to manage, but there’s also a much bigger pool of tenants ready to call your property home.  Maybe it’s time to let the dogs in.

Talk to us today about making your property pet-ready.