Pets in New Zealand rentals: the rules since December 2025, and how to get approved

The rules in one list

• Consent — a tenant can keep a pet if the tenancy agreement allows it, or with written landlord consent
• Refusal — a landlord may refuse only on reasonable grounds
• Response time — the landlord must respond to a written request within 21 days
• Pet bond — up to 2 weeks’ rent, in addition to the standard bond of up to 4 weeks
• Number of pet bonds — one at a time, regardless of how many pets are consented to
• Damage — tenants are fully liable for pet damage beyond fair wear and tear
• Assistance dogs — exempt, no consent needed, no pet bond
• Existing pets — pets lawfully kept before 1 December 2025 are grandfathered

How much is a pet bond?

Up to two weeks’ rent, on top of the standard bond. A tenant renting at $600 a week could be asked for up to $2,400 standard bond plus up to $1,200 pet bond. It is lodged with Tenancy Services through Bond Hub exactly like the standard bond, and it is refundable — it is not a fee. Two details that catch people out:

• Only one pet bond may be held at any time. Consent for three pets does not mean three pet bonds.
• If the pet leaves the property, the tenant can request the pet bond back during the tenancy. If they later get a new pet, a new pet bond can be charged.

If rent increases, the landlord can require a top-up of both bonds. If rent decreases, the tenant can apply for a refund of the excess.

What counts as reasonable grounds to refuse?

A landlord must have a genuine reason tied to the specific property and the specific animal. Typically reasonable:

• The property is physically unsuitable — no outdoor space, inadequate fencing for a large dog
• Body corporate rules or a council bylaw prohibit the animal
• The animal is classified or menacing under the Dog Control Act 1996
• The number or size of animals is unreasonable for the property

Not reasonable: a blanket policy, a preference, or an unexplained no. Existing no-pets clauses in tenancy agreements are unenforceable. If you are refused and the reason looks like a blanket policy dressed up, ask for the specific ground in writing — that request alone resolves a lot of these.

Making a pet request that gets approved

Put together a one-page pet profile: species, breed, age, size and weight; desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, registered; house-trained, and where the animal stays during the day; a photograph; how long it’s left alone. Gather two references: a previous landlord or property manager confirming no pet-related damage or complaints, and your vet on temperament and health — if you’re renting with a pet for the first time, a letter from a trainer or day-care fills the gap. Pre-empt the concerns. Offer the pet bond before it’s asked for, and say how you’ll handle noise, exercise, grooming and end-of-tenancy carpet cleaning — every concern you answer in advance is a condition the landlord doesn’t have to impose. Put it in writing and date it. The 21-day clock starts from a written request.

Conditions a landlord can attach

A landlord who consents can impose reasonable conditions. Common and generally reasonable:

• Professional carpet cleaning and flea treatment at the end of the tenancy
• Keeping the animal outside, or out of specified rooms
• A limit on the number of animals
• Requiring dog registration and adequate fencing

Conditions must be reasonable and connected to the pet. Requiring the tenant to repaint the house is not.

Damage, and who pays

Tenants are fully liable for pet damage beyond fair wear and tear, including accidental and careless damage. This is stricter than the general damage rule and is the trade-off for easier consent. The pet bond covers it first. If damage exceeds the pet bond, the Tenancy Tribunal can order the general bond be used for the excess, and can order payment beyond both. Fair wear and tear is still fair wear and tear — a carpet that has aged four years has aged four years, but claw marks on a door frame have not.

If you already had a pet before 1 December 2025

You are grandfathered. If the pet was lawfully kept before that date, your landlord cannot demand fresh consent, impose new conditions, or charge a pet bond for that animal. If you get an additional pet after that date, the new rules apply to the new animal.

Frequently asked questions