Pets in NZ Rentals: What Landlords Can and Cannot Do
Pets in rentals are a perennial issue for NZ landlords. Tenants want to keep their animals. Landlords worry about damage, smell, and complaints from neighbours. The law sets some clear limits on what landlords can and cannot do — and many landlords are surprised to learn that a "pet bond" is not actually legal in New Zealand.
Can You Charge a Pet Bond?
No. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, the maximum bond a landlord can charge is 4 weeks rent — regardless of whether there are pets. You cannot charge an additional pet bond, a pet deposit, or any other form of additional security for pets. Attempting to do so is a breach of the Act and could result in an unlawful profit order from the Tenancy Tribunal.
This surprises many landlords who have heard about pet bonds from friends or seen them in tenancy agreement templates. Pet bonds are used in some other countries but are not permitted in NZ.
Can You Refuse to Allow Pets?
Yes. You can include a clause in your tenancy agreement prohibiting pets, or requiring your prior written approval before any pet is kept at the property. This is enforceable, and a tenant who keeps pets in breach of a no-pets clause is in breach of the tenancy agreement.
However, there are limits. If a tenant has a disability and requires a companion animal or assistance dog, you cannot unreasonably refuse to allow that animal. The Human Rights Act applies alongside the RTA in these cases.
What About Properties With Body Corporate Rules?
If your property is in a complex governed by a body corporate (most apartments and some townhouses), the body corporate rules may prohibit pets or require body corporate approval. In that case, you should not approve pets without first checking whether the body corporate rules allow them — because the tenant would be breaching body corporate rules even with your approval.
If You Allow Pets, Get It in Writing
If you approve a pet, document it. A short addendum to the tenancy agreement works well:
- Species and breed of the pet
- Any conditions (pet must be kept outdoors, no more than 2 cats, etc.)
- Tenant's acknowledgment that they are responsible for all damage caused by the pet
- Requirement to have the property professionally cleaned and carpet steam cleaned at the end of the tenancy if pets were kept indoors
This last point is important. Requiring professional cleaning at tenancy end is enforceable if it was agreed in writing — and it shifts the cleaning cost clearly onto the tenant rather than leaving it as a dispute.
Claiming for Pet Damage
You cannot charge extra bond, but you can claim for actual damage through the normal bond process or a Tribunal application. Pet damage claims are common and generally succeed if:
- The tenancy condition report shows the property was in good condition at the start
- The move-out inspection documents the damage with photos
- You have receipts for repairs or professional cleaning
- The costs are reasonable and relate specifically to the pet (not pre-existing wear)
Flea treatment, carpet replacement due to pet odour, and garden damage from dogs are all regularly awarded by the Tribunal when properly evidenced.
The Practical Risk Assessment
Many landlords with a blanket no-pets policy miss out on good tenants and longer tenancies. Pet owners, especially with dogs, tend to stay longer because it is harder to find pet-friendly rentals. The actual damage risk is manageable if you document properly and require appropriate cleaning at the end.
A balanced approach: allow pets on application, document the approval, take a thorough TCR, and require professional cleaning in the tenancy agreement. This gives you most of the protection of a no-pets policy with fewer vacancies.
If you are managing multiple properties, tracking which tenancies have approved pets and what conditions were agreed is the kind of detail that is easy to miss without proper records. RentManager lets you attach notes and documents to each tenancy so the pet approval terms are always visible.