Can you have a pet in a tenancy agreement?

Following the Tenant Fees Act, many landlords are now against having pets in their properties. However, including the correct clauses in your tenancy agreement can help protect you against pet damage, allowing you to benefit from a growing marketing. For more helpful tips and guidance, visit our landlord FAQs page.

How many landlords allow pets in their rental properties?

However, according to a survey of our landlords, only 55% of landlords allow pets. This has an impact on several tenants’ rental experiences.

Is it illegal to have a pet as a tenant in NSW?

There is no term in the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) that prohibits you from keeping a pet, or that requires you to ask for your landlord’s consent before you keep a pet. However, many landlords will include a clause restricting pets in the residential tenancy agreement, and there is no specific ban on them doing so.

Can a landlord charge for a service animal?

Service animals are allowed wherever a person may go, including restricted animal areas like food establishments. Landlords cannot collect a pet deposit or charge a pet fee to persons with a service animal (since they are not technically considered pets).

How big of a dog can a landlord allow in a rental?

Instead of, or in addition to, banning certain breeds, some landlords limit the weight of dogs. For example, a landlord might only allow dogs under 20 pounds. Tenants’ pets only. In your pet agreement, make it clear that you allow only tenants’ pets. You don’t want your tenants caring for other people’s pets in their rental unit.

Can a tenant have a pet in the apartment?

You should specify that only tenants’ pets are allowed to reside in the unit to make sure they won’t be caring for other people’s animals. Express whether or not guests will be allowed to bring pets with them. Sometimes people choose to exclude “dangerous” dog breeds from the pets allowed in a unit.

Can a landlord prohibit the ownership of an animal?

Size of the animal, breed of the animal, etc. may all be used by the landlord to restrict ownership of the animal on the premises. This makes sense since the landlord may prohibit any animal, with the exceptions noted below. Many landlords can and do require a special pet deposit to pay for damage that an animal can cause.

What does a landlord have to do with a pet addendum?

A pet addendum, sometimes called a pet agreement, is a document added to your lease agreement that requires tenants to abide by specified rules, regulations and pet policies. By signing a pet addendum: The landlord gives the tenant permission to live in the rental property with the animals specified.