Renting with Pets in Australia: What Changed in NSW (and How Other States Compare)

Since 19 May 2025, NSW landlords can no longer refuse a pet application without a specific, legislated reason — and if they don't respond within 21 days, the pet is automatically approved. Other states run different systems entirely: Victoria gives landlords 14 days and routes disputes through VCAT, while South Australia has reportedly banned separate "pet bonds" outright. If you're renting with a pet anywhere in Australia, the rules depend entirely on which state you're in.

Here's what actually changed, state by state, based on each government's own tenancy pages.

According to the NSW Government's official page (last updated 19 May 2025, the same date the changes commenced), tenants still need the landlord's consent to keep a pet — but the landlord can now only refuse for specific reasons set out in the legislation:

• The property can't reasonably accommodate more than 4 animals
• Inadequate fencing or space for the type of animal
• The pet would create inhumane living conditions
• A high probability of damage that would exceed what the bond can cover
• Keeping the pet would breach another law (council rules, strata by-laws)
• The landlord lives at the property themselves

If a tenant submits a proper pet application and the landlord doesn't respond within 21 days, the pet is automatically approved — with no conditions attached. Tenants don't need consent at all to keep an assistance animal. One extra wrinkle: strata properties may still need separate sign-off from the owners corporation under the building's own by-laws, on top of the landlord's consent.

Consumer Affairs Victoria's official page (last updated 23 April 2025) runs a similar but distinct process. Renters need written consent, using a Consumer Affairs Victoria pet request form. The landlord has 14 days to respond — if they don't, "the renter can keep the pet." If a landlord wants to refuse, they have to apply to VCAT (the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) within that same window; VCAT then weighs factors like the type of pet, the type of property, and any relevant council rules.

One clear difference from NSW: Victoria explicitly prohibits pet bonds — landlords and owners "cannot ask for an additional bond as a 'pet bond'" on top of the standard rental bond. Renters remain responsible for any actual damage their pet causes, which the landlord can still pursue through VCAT if needed.

Per the Residential Tenancies Authority's official "Renting with pets" fact sheet, Queensland tenants need the lessor's written consent, submitted using the RTA's own Form 21 ("Request for approval to keep a pet in a rental property"). Keeping a pet without approval is treated as "a significant breach" of the tenancy agreement — a stronger framing than some other states use.

Lessors have 14 days to respond in writing; if they don't, or their response doesn't meet the legislation's requirements, the request is automatically treated as approved. Valid refusal grounds include exceeding a reasonable number of animals, unsuitable property conditions, likely damage beyond the bond, health/safety risks, legal conflicts, or body corporate by-law violations — but landlords can't require tenants to buy services from a specific vendor, charge extra fees beyond standard rent/bond, or raise the rent as a workaround. Working dogs (assistance, guide, hearing dogs) don't need approval at all. This framework runs under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (Qld).

Based on WA Government and Consumer Protection sources (WebSearch cross-referenced this round, not independently re-verified against the primary page): tenants apply using a landlord consent form, and the landlord has 14 days to respond — no response within that window means the pet request is automatically approved. A landlord can refuse if keeping the pet would breach a law or strata rule, or would cause "undue hardship" to the landlord or another tenant. Unlike Victoria, WA does allow a capped pet bond of up to AUD 350 for fumigation or pet-related damage — though tenants with an assistance animal can't be asked to pay it. Disputes go through a "Commissioner's Determination" process run by WA's Consumer Protection Commissioner.

South Australia's rental reforms reportedly changed the default from "landlord can say no" to "tenant has a right to apply, and can't be unreasonably refused" — landlords can no longer state a blanket "no pets allowed" policy (unless a strata, community title, rooming house or residential park rule specifically prohibits it), and can't charge a separate pet bond. Landlords keep a 14-day response window and can still refuse for justifiable reasons — insufficient space or fencing, non-compliance with council requirements, or a genuine public-safety risk. Assistance and therapeutic animals (as defined under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 SA) are exempt from needing approval at all.

Important caveat: this SA section is built from cross-referenced search results, not a directly fetched primary page — three separate attempts to WebFetch official SA government pages (SA.GOV.AU, the Premier's media release, and the CBS SA fact-sheet PDF) all returned HTTP 403 this round. The underlying facts are consistent across multiple independent sources, but should be verified against a primary SA Government page before this goes live.

• The default has shifted almost everywhere — most states now put the burden on landlords to justify a refusal, rather than tenants having to convince a reluctant landlord
• The response-window trick matters: in every state covered here, a landlord who simply doesn't respond in time (14–21 days depending on the state) ends up with the pet approved by default — so a well-documented, timely application is worth doing properly
• Pet bonds aren't universal — Victoria and (reportedly) South Australia don't allow them, WA caps one at AUD 350; always check your specific state
• Landlords in several states can ask for proof your pet is registered and microchipped as part of a reasonable condition — sort that out before you apply, not after
• Moving with a pet involves real cost beyond rent — bonds, potential carpet cleaning clauses, and the pet's own ongoing costs are worth budgeting for properly

Before you move, it's also worth getting your pet's vaccination and vet records in order — you can find a vet through the PetHealthMap Australia clinic directory if you need a health check or updated records for a pet application.

This article summarises publicly available tenancy rules for general planning purposes and is not legal advice. Rental laws change and vary by state, council and even individual strata by-laws — always confirm current requirements with your state's official tenancy authority (or a tenants' advocacy service) before relying on this for a real dispute. This article has not yet been reviewed by an Australia-licensed veterinarian or a tenancy law professional — PetHealthMap is working on establishing local review for AU-market content.