Date: 28th Sep 2026
Renting with a pet just got a little easier. As of 1 December 2025, changes to the Residential Tenancies Act give tenants a clearer path to keeping a pet, while giving landlords more confidence that their property is protected. Blanket "no pets" clauses are gone, and a new pet bond helps strike a fair balance between both sides.
The changes affect both tenants and landlords, although their responsibilities differ. Understanding the new rules before entering or renewing a tenancy can help avoid disputes later. Below, we cover what's changed, how pet bonds work, when a landlord can say no, and what each party is now responsible for.
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 introduced these changes, with the pet provisions taking effect on 1 December 2025. The goal is straightforward: remove barriers for renters with pets, while giving property owners the confidence that their homes are protected.
Under the new rules, landlords and property managers can no longer apply an outright pet ban. Instead, tenants must request consent to keep a pet, and a landlord can only refuse on reasonable grounds. Landlords can also charge a pet bond and set sensible conditions around how a pet is kept.
To support this, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has built pet bond functionality into its tenancy bond system. This means landlords can lodge pet bonds, process top-ups if rent changes, and handle refunds once a pet is no longer at the property.
A pet bond is an additional security deposit a landlord can charge specifically to cover pet-related damage. It sits alongside the regular rental bond, not instead of it.
So how much is a pet bond in NZ? Landlords can charge up to two weeks' rent. Only one pet bond applies per tenancy, even if consent covers more than one pet, and like any bond, it must be lodged with Tenancy Services.
A landlord can only charge a pet bond where:
If a tenant was already lawfully keeping a pet before that date, a landlord can't apply a pet bond retrospectively.
There are also bond-related infringement offences for getting it wrong: charging a pet bond when no pet is kept at the property can attract a fine of up to $1,500, and charging more than the maximum amount of two weeks' rent can attract a fine of up to $3,000.
They can, but only on reasonable grounds. A blanket refusal is no longer enough, and each request deserves to be considered on its own merits.
Reasonable grounds set out in the legislation include the property being genuinely unsuitable for the type of animal. For example, a large dog in a very small apartment, or where keeping the pet would create legitimate safety or animal welfare concerns. A landlord may also refuse consent where a rule or bylaw prohibits the pet, or where the animal is dangerous or likely to cause significant disruption.
Where body corporate rules or relevant bylaws relating to pets apply, a landlord may rely on those to decline, for instance, where a bylaw prohibits animals in an apartment complex. A landlord can also decline a tenant who’s previously failed to meet reasonable pet conditions or breached pet-related bylaws. Outside genuine reasons like these, a landlord's consent should not be unreasonably withheld.
One clear exception is for disability-assist dogs — a pet bond cannot be charged, and tenants don't need to ask for permission at all. However, companion or emotional-support animals are treated differently and don't carry the same legal protections.
Tenants are expected to look after the home and prevent damage, keeping the property in the same condition as when they moved in, fair wear and tear aside.
The everyday expectations are common sense: keep noise and nuisance to a minimum so neighbours aren't disturbed, stay on top of cleaning and hygiene, and manage any mess in outdoor areas. Where local council requirements apply — dog registration, for example, or limits on the number of animals — it's on the tenant to meet them.
The new framework spreads rights and responsibilities across both parties. Landlords are expected to consider pet requests fairly and respond within the required timeframe, while tenants take on clear obligations once a pet is approved.
When granting pet consent, a landlord can set reasonable conditions suited to the property and the type of animal, such as:
The biggest shift is around liability. Tenants are now liable for the full cost of pet damage, whether it's intentional, careless, or purely accidental. A dog scratching a door, or a fish tank breaking and ruining the carpet, sits with the tenant to put right. And that liability isn't limited to the pet's owner: everyone named on the tenancy agreement shares responsibility, jointly.
The rules play out a little differently depending on where a tenancy is up to. For new tenancies, pet arrangements are taken care of upfront. A prospective tenant can submit their pet application alongside their property application, with any pet bond and conditions agreed from day one.
For existing tenants, it comes down to timing. A tenant who was already lawfully keeping a pet before 1 December 2025 keeps their current arrangement, and no pet bond can be applied after the fact. A tenant who wants to bring in a new pet during an existing tenancy can request consent, and the landlord must respond in writing within 21 days.
Putting everything in writing protects both sides. A pet agreement, usually added as an addendum to the tenancy agreement, records exactly what's been approved and on what terms, which makes life far easier if a disagreement ever ends up at the Tenancy Tribunal.
A pet agreement typically covers:
A little preparation goes a long way. Gathering references from previous landlords, along with details about your pet (age, breed, temperament, and whether it's desexed and registered), helps a landlord say yes with confidence. Being upfront from the start, rather than hoping a pet goes unnoticed, tends to build far more trust.
Welcoming pets can be a sound decision. Pet-friendly properties open the door to a larger tenant pool and often lead to longer, more settled tenancies. Meeting the pet, setting clear written conditions, and keeping good inspection records make pet-friendly rentals straightforward to manage.
A pet bond rental deposit is charged specifically to cover careless, intentional or accidental pet-related damage and sits on top of the existing general tenancy bond. A general bond covers the tenancy broadly; the Tenancy Services pet bond is ring-fenced for pet-related damage, and must be clearly identified as such in your documentation.
Yes, but only on reasonable grounds, such as the property being unsuitable, a bylaw or body corporate rule prohibiting pets, or the animal being dangerous. A blanket refusal with no reason given is not permitted.
The tenant is liable for the cost of any careless, accidental, or intentional damage beyond fair wear and tear. If repair costs run higher than the pet bond, the tenant is still responsible for the difference.
Yes, though a pet already lawfully kept before the rules took effect isn't subject to a new pet bond. An existing tenant wanting a new pet can request consent, and the landlord has 21 days to respond in writing.
Yes. Under the tenancy pet laws, NZ landlords can attach reasonable conditions to their consent, such as a limit on the number of pets, or professional-standard carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy, provided they’re appropriate to the property and the type of pet.
Tenancy Services (tenancy.govt.nz) is the official source for guidance on pet bond lodgement, forms, and the current Residential Tenancies Act pet provisions. It's the best place to check the latest details before entering or renewing a tenancy.
The new pet bond rules provide greater certainty: tenants get a genuine shot at renting with a pet, and landlords get clearer protections and a bond to fall back on if things go wrong. For both landlords and tenants, the key is understanding how these rules apply before signing or renewing an agreement — and putting the details in writing from the start.
Whether you're a landlord opening your property up to pet-friendly tenants, or a tenant searching for a home that welcomes yours, the team at Tremains is here to help. Talk to us today about making the new rules work for you.
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