Pet laws for Australian renters have changed substantially in recent years, and the changes have not been evenly felt across the country. In some states, a landlord's blanket "no pets" policy is now essentially unenforceable. In others, the traditional rules still largely apply. Here is the current state of play — state by state.
For most of Australia's rental history, a "no pets" clause in a lease was legally binding and nearly impossible to challenge. Landlords could refuse pets for any reason or no reason, and tenants who kept animals without permission risked eviction.
That has changed — but unevenly. Reform has happened in waves across different states, which means your rights depend heavily on where you rent. Knowing your state's rules before you apply for a property (or before you ask for permission) can save a lot of frustration.
Victoria and the ACT have gone furthest in protecting renters who want pets. In both jurisdictions, landlords can no longer simply say no to a pet request. They must apply to the relevant tribunal to refuse, and only on specific prescribed grounds — such as the property being genuinely unsuitable for the type of animal, or the owners corporation of a strata building having rules that prohibit it.
A blanket clause in a lease that prohibits all pets is no longer enforceable in either Victoria or the ACT. If you make a formal pet request and the landlord does not respond within the required timeframe, approval is deemed to have been granted.
Queensland removed the ability to enforce blanket no-pet clauses following the Housing Legislation Amendment Act 2021. Landlords can still refuse a pet request, but only on specific reasonable grounds set out in the legislation — and they must respond within 14 days of receiving the request. Silence is deemed approval.
Reasonable grounds for refusal in Queensland include: the property is unsuitable for the animal, keeping the animal would exceed the number of occupants or animals allowed under body corporate rules, or there is some other prescribed reason. "I just don't want pets" is not a valid ground.
NSW and SA have both introduced requirements that landlords must actively respond to pet requests rather than simply ignoring them. In NSW, if a landlord does not respond to a pet request within 21 days, approval is deemed granted. Refusals must be on reasonable grounds and can be challenged at NCAT.
South Australia introduced similar reforms in 2024. Landlords must respond within a set timeframe and cannot refuse without a reasonable ground. The rules are still being tested in practice, but the shift away from unconditional refusal is significant.
Western Australia updated its pet rules in 2024 as part of broader tenancy reform. WA is the only Australian state that still allows landlords to charge a pet bond — a separate refundable deposit (capped at one week's rent) specifically for pet-related damage. This is in addition to the regular four-week bond.
WA landlords can still apply conditions to pet approval, but blanket refusals are increasingly scrutinised. The Magistrates Court is the forum for disputes about pet requests in WA.
Tasmania and the Northern Territory still operate under more traditional tenancy rules where landlords have broader ability to prohibit pets via the tenancy agreement. Reform is under consideration in Tasmania, but as of 2026, a lease clause prohibiting pets is generally enforceable.
If you are renting in Tasmania or the NT and want to keep a pet, your best approach is to negotiate before signing — once the lease is in place with a no-pets clause, your options are limited.
Regardless of your state's rules, a well-prepared pet application improves your chances of approval. Include a photo of your pet, vaccination and desexing records, a reference from a previous landlord confirming no damage or issues, and a brief note on how you plan to protect the property — professional carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy, regular flea treatment, grooming.
Focus the application on risk mitigation rather than emotional appeal. A landlord considering a pet request is thinking about their property — show them you have thought about it too. For detailed guidance, see the pet application guide.
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