Pets in rentals: the new rules.
Since 1 December 2025, tenants have a legal pathway to keep pets — and landlords have new protections. Here's how it works for both sides, in plain English.
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 changed how pets work in New Zealand rentals, with the pet provisions taking effect on 1 December 2025. Blanket "no pets" policies are gone; in their place is a structured consent process with real protections for owners. Here's what each side needs to know.
For tenants: how to get a pet approved
You can keep a pet if your tenancy agreement allows it or your landlord gives written consent. Request consent in writing — the landlord must respond in writing within 21 days, and can only decline on reasonable grounds set out in the Act (for example, the property is genuinely unsuitable, or body corporate rules prohibit animals). A flat "no" without a valid reason isn't lawful. Disability assist dogs are exempt entirely: no consent needed, no pet bond chargeable.
For landlords: your new protections
The pet bond. You can charge a pet bond of up to two weeks' rent, on top of the standard bond of up to four weeks — six weeks of security in total. One pet bond per tenancy (even for multiple pets), lodged with Tenancy Services like any other bond, and clearly stated in the tenancy agreement. If rent increases, the pet bond can be topped up to match.
Full damage liability. Tenants are responsible for all pet-related damage beyond fair wear and tear — and every tenant on the agreement carries that liability, even if the pet belongs to a flatmate or a guest.
Reasonable conditions. Consent can come with conditions — the well-known one being professional carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy where a pet has been kept inside.
The traps on both sides
For landlords: refusing a pet without reasonable grounds, or charging a pet bond when no pet is kept, can attract penalties of up to $1,500 — and charging more than two weeks' rent as a pet bond can attract up to $3,000. Weekly "pet rent" surcharges aren't permitted; the bond is the mechanism. Advertising a property as "no pets" by default is also unwise now — you must consider every request on its merits regardless.
For tenants: keeping a pet without consent is a breach of the tenancy, and "the pet was already here" only protects animals lawfully kept before 1 December 2025 — those existing pets are grandfathered and can't be charged a new pet bond.
Our take
Pet-friendly properties consistently attract more applicants and longer tenancies — and with a six-week total bond, full damage liability and documented conditions, the risk is more manageable than it's ever been. We handle the consent process, the paperwork and the bond lodgement for our owners, and we help tenants put together pet applications that owners can say yes to. Questions about a specific situation? Owners and tenants can reach us directly, and the authoritative source is always Tenancy Services.