Can a Landlord Refuse Pets in a Rental Property in New Zealand?

Pets in rental properties have long been a topic of discussion between landlords and tenants. With changes to New Zealand's tenancy legislation taking effect on 1 December 2025, it's important for property owners to understand their rights and responsibilities.

The short answer is yes, landlords can still refuse pets, but they must have reasonable grounds for doing so.

What has changed for landlords?

Under the updated Residential Tenancies Act, tenants who wish to introduce a pet to their rental property must obtain consent, and landlords cannot unreasonably withhold that consent.

This means landlords need to consider pet requests on their individual merits, rather than relying on a blanket no-pets policy.

The new rules also introduce additional protections for property owners, including pet bonds and greater tenant responsibility for pet-related damage.

When can a landlord reasonably refuse a pet?

There are circumstances where declining a pet application may be justified.

For example, the property's size, fencing, shared facilities, legal restrictions or the suitability of a particular animal may provide reasonable grounds for refusal.

This can be particularly relevant for rural and lifestyle properties, where livestock, shared accessways and other property-specific considerations may need to be taken into account.

However, simply preferring not to have pets is unlikely to be sufficient grounds on its own.

What protection do landlords have?

Landlords can request a pet bond of up to two weeks' rent, in addition to the standard tenancy bond.

They may also impose reasonable conditions when approving a pet, provided those conditions are appropriate to the property and animal.

Tenants are responsible for pet-related damage beyond fair wear and tear.

These provisions are intended to provide greater protection for rental property owners while allowing tenants more opportunities to keep pets.

Why getting it right matters

Pet requests aren't always straightforward.

What may be reasonable for a fully fenced suburban home could be entirely different for an apartment or rural lifestyle property.

Landlords who decline requests without reasonable grounds risk breaching tenancy legislation. Equally, owners need to understand the protections available to them before granting consent.

This is where having an experienced property manager who understands the legislation can make a real difference.

My approach at Private Residence

I believe good property management means balancing the rights of tenants with the interests of property owners.

Every property is different, and decisions should be based on the individual circumstances, current legislation and the long-term protection of the investment.

As an independent property manager, I stay informed about legislative changes and provide owners with clear, practical advice on how those changes affect their properties.

Unsure how the new pet rules affect your rental property?

If you're a landlord looking for guidance on your obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act, get in touch with Private Residence.

I'm always happy to have a conversation about your property and how I can help protect your investment.