Pet bonds and pet requests in NZ rentals: the rules since 1 December 2025

Since 1 December 2025, a New Zealand landlord who agrees to a tenant keeping a pet can charge a pet bond of up to 2 weeks' rent, on top of the general bond. Only one pet bond can be held at a time, however many pets there are, and it is lodged with Tenancy Services like any other bond. The same law change gave tenants a formal way to ask for a pet: the landlord must answer in writing within 21 days, can only say no on reasonable grounds, and tenants are now fully responsible for pet damage beyond fair wear and tear.

How the old rules differed

• Before 1 December 2025 the Act had no pet consent process, and there was no separate pet bond. Whether pets were allowed was left to the tenancy agreement.
• Now a tenancy agreement cannot ban pets unless it states reasonable grounds for the ban. A no-pets clause without grounds has no effect.
• Pet damage used to fall under the general careless damage cap: the lesser of 4 weeks' rent or the landlord's insurance excess. For damage done on or after 1 December 2025, tenants are responsible for all pet damage beyond fair wear and tear.

How a tenant asks

The request should be in writing. The Act does not prescribe a form, but Tenancy Services publishes a recommended template, and our pet consent request template covers the same ground. A good request says what kind of animal it is, how many, whether it will live inside or out, why the property suits it, and whether council rules allow it. A vague request is a fair reason for a landlord to refuse, so detail helps the tenant.

Any tenant named on the agreement can make the request. It is still worth talking it through with the other tenants first, because all of them are responsible for pet damage.

The landlord's 21 days

The landlord must reply in writing within 21 days of receiving the request. Tenancy Services counts these as calendar days, and the clock keeps running even if the landlord asks for more information. The reply must say whether consent is given, list any conditions if it is, and give the grounds if it is not. It can also specify which pets the consent covers (a named pet, a number, a type or breed) and reasonable requirements such as size.

Missing the deadline without a reasonable excuse, or refusing without reasonable grounds, are each unlawful acts. The Tenancy Tribunal can award exemplary damages of up to $1,500 for either.

Reasonable grounds to refuse

The Act gives examples rather than a closed list:

• The property is not suitable, for example its size, fencing or other features.
• A rule or bylaw that applies to the property prohibits the pet, such as body corporate rules or a council bylaw.
• The tenant has not complied with bylaws for that pet, like registration.
• The pet is unsuitable for the property because of the number of animals, their size or species, their tendency to cause damage or disturb neighbours, a dangerous or menacing dog classification, or good reason to believe they have attacked people or animals before.
• The tenant will not agree to a reasonable condition, or has previously broken one.

The pet bond in practice

• Maximum 2 weeks' rent. One pet bond at a time per tenancy, even for several pets.
• It sits on top of the general bond, which is still capped at 4 weeks' rent. Paperwork should state each bond's type and amount clearly.
• Give the tenant a receipt and lodge it with Tenancy Services within 23 working days, through Bond Hub or property management software.
• If the rent rises lawfully, you can ask for a top-up of up to the increase in 2 weeks' rent.
• If the pet is no longer at the property, the tenant can ask for the pet bond back. A new pet can mean a new pet bond.
• It covers pet damage beyond fair wear and tear. It can cover other amounts only if the tenant agrees or the Tribunal orders it.
• Charging more than the limit, or charging a pet bond to a tenant who is not keeping a pet, is an unlawful act.

Exceptions

Disability assist dogs, meaning dogs certified by the organisations listed in the Dog Control Act 1996, need no consent and cannot attract a pet bond. Tenancy Services notes that an emotional support animal is not a disability assist dog.

Pets lawfully kept before 1 December 2025 do not need fresh consent, and the landlord cannot add a pet bond or new conditions for them. Any conditions agreed at the time still apply. The damage rule depends on when the damage happened, not when the pet arrived.

How it fits with the tenancy agreement

A tenant can keep a pet if either the tenancy agreement allows it or the landlord has given written consent. If you already know you are happy with, say, one cat, saying so in the agreement with any conditions saves a round of letters later. A pet bond condition is agreed as a variation to the tenancy agreement, so keep the request and your written reply with the agreement.

Because tenants now carry the full cost of pet damage, the entry inspection matters more than ever. Dated photos of floors, doors, carpets and curtains at the start, repeated at each inspection, are what will separate pet damage from wear and tear if it ever comes to a claim. Landy keeps those photos dated against the rental, which is exactly the record this rule rewards.