The rules around pets in rental properties in NSW changed significantly from 19 May 2025. If you own a rental property in Newcastle or anywhere across New South Wales, it is worth understanding what those changes mean for you, what your obligations now look like, and how clear processes can help protect your property and your tenancy.
This article is general information only. For guidance specific to your situation, we recommend speaking with NSW Fair Trading or a qualified tenancy adviser.
What Changed for Pets in NSW Rental Properties From 19 May 2025?
Before the reforms, landlords in NSW had relatively broad discretion to refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet. The legislative changes introduced from 19 May 2025 significantly narrowed that discretion.
Under the updated rules, a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse a pet request. The starting position is that consent should be granted unless there is a prescribed reason to refuse. This represents a meaningful shift from the previous framework, where refusal was more straightforward.
The key changes include:
- Landlords must respond to a pet request within 21 days. If no response is given within that timeframe, consent is taken to be granted automatically.
- Refusal is only permitted on specific grounds set out in the legislation.
- Landlords may apply reasonable conditions to consent, but conditions must be relevant to the pet and the property.
If you have not yet reviewed your current process for handling pet requests, now is a practical time to do so.
When Can a Landlord Refuse a Pet Request?
This is one of the most common questions landlords are asking right now, and it is important to understand the distinction between a reasonable refusal and an unreasonable one.
Under the updated NSW framework, a landlord may refuse a pet request on specific grounds. These include situations where keeping the animal would not comply with an applicable law or local council requirement, where the property is subject to a strata by-law that prohibits the keeping of that animal, or where keeping the animal would cause undue hardship to the landlord in circumstances that could not be addressed through reasonable conditions.
What this means in practice is that a general preference not to have pets at the property is no longer sufficient grounds for refusal. The reason for refusal needs to align with the prescribed categories. Vague or unsupported objections are unlikely to hold up.
It is also worth noting that strata properties carry their own layer of complexity. If your property sits within a strata scheme, the relevant by-laws will play a role in what is and is not permitted. Understanding that interplay before a request arrives is useful preparation.
What Conditions Can Landlords Reasonably Apply?
Granting consent does not mean accepting every outcome without any practical protection in place. Landlords can apply reasonable conditions to a pet approval, provided those conditions are directly connected to the keeping of that animal at the property.
Examples of conditions that may be considered reasonable include:
- Requiring professional carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy if carpet is present throughout the property
- Requiring flea treatment at the conclusion of the tenancy
- Requiring the pet to be kept in a specific area of the property, such as outdoors only
Conditions must be proportionate and relevant. A landlord cannot attach conditions that are so onerous they effectively operate as a refusal. The intention of the legislation is that reasonable conditions support the granting of consent, not obstruct it.
Getting conditions documented clearly from the start, within the tenancy agreement or as a written addendum, means both parties understand the expectations and protects the landlord if issues arise later.
How Does Documentation Protect Your Property?
Clear documentation is one of the most practical tools a landlord has when it comes to pets in rental properties. This is not new, but it matters more now that pet approvals are more common.
A thorough ingoing condition report, with photographs, is essential before any tenancy begins, and that remains true when a pet is involved. If a tenant is approved to keep a pet during the tenancy, updating the condition report at that point, or at the next routine inspection, creates a clear record of the property’s condition from that date forward.
Routine inspections also serve an important function here. They allow your property manager to identify any emerging issues, raise them with the tenant early, and document the current state of the property. Catching a problem at the three-month inspection is far preferable to discovering it at the end of a two-year tenancy.
Clear records, clear conditions, and consistent follow-through give landlords the best position if a dispute ever arises.
What About Damage Caused by a Pet?
Tenants remain responsible for any damage caused by their pet that goes beyond fair wear and tear. The introduction of more permissive pet rules does not remove that accountability.
If a pet causes damage, the landlord can claim for that damage through the bond process or, where bond funds are insufficient, through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). What matters is that the damage is documented clearly, compared against the original condition report, and supported by evidence of the cost to repair.
This is where a thorough, well-maintained tenancy file makes a genuine difference. Landlords who have detailed condition reports, dated inspection notes, and clear written records of any pet-related conditions are in a far stronger position than those relying on memory or partial documentation.
Practical Steps for Newcastle Landlords
If you manage a rental property in Newcastle and you have not yet thought through your approach to pet requests under the updated rules, the following steps are worth working through:
- Review your current lease documentation to confirm it reflects current NSW tenancy legislation and includes a clear process for pet requests.
- Understand your property’s specific context, including whether strata by-laws apply and what they say about animals.
- Establish a consistent process for receiving, assessing and responding to pet requests within the required 21-day window.
- Ensure condition reports are thorough and up to date, particularly if a pet is approved mid-tenancy.
- Document any conditions applied to a pet approval in writing and ensure the tenant acknowledges them.
Having a clear process in place before a request arrives is always easier than building one under pressure after a request has been received.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a landlord still say no to a pet request in NSW?
Yes, but only on specific prescribed grounds. From 19 May 2025, a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse a pet request. Refusal must be based on reasons set out in the legislation, such as a strata by-law prohibition or a requirement under another applicable law. A general preference against pets is not sufficient grounds for refusal.
What happens if a landlord does not respond to a pet request within 21 days?
If a landlord does not respond to a tenant’s pet request within 21 days, consent is taken to be granted automatically under the updated NSW rules. Responding promptly and in writing is important, whether the answer is yes with conditions, or a documented refusal on permitted grounds.
Can landlords charge extra rent or a pet bond because a tenant has a pet?
No. NSW legislation does not permit landlords to charge additional rent or a separate pet bond because a tenant has been approved to keep a pet. Landlords can apply reasonable conditions to pet approval, but additional financial charges of this nature are not permitted.
Are pets in rental properties covered by routine inspections?
Routine inspections are an important part of any tenancy, and they are particularly useful when a pet has been approved. Inspections allow a property manager to assess the current condition of the property, identify any maintenance or damage concerns early, and document the property’s state throughout the tenancy.
Where can landlords get specific advice about pet requests in NSW?
For guidance specific to your property or situation, NSW Fair Trading is the primary resource for landlords in New South Wales. A qualified tenancy adviser or your property manager can also help you navigate the process in a way that is practical and aligned with current legislation.
The changes to pet-related tenancy rules in NSW reflect a broader direction in residential tenancy reform. Understanding your obligations, having the right documentation in place, and working with a property manager who communicates clearly throughout the process makes all the difference in protecting your property and managing these situations with confidence.
Contact us at Simpson Property Management to talk through how we can support you with tenancy matters, pet request processes, and clear documentation across your Newcastle rental property.