Renting with Pets: What’s Changed in NSW?

KEY TAKE-OUTS:

• NSW rental laws are continuing to evolve, bringing new changes for tenants and landlords

• Recent reforms aim to make renting with pets easier and fairer

• New rules introduce clearer processes and timeframes for pet requests

• Find out what these changes mean for tenants, landlords and their furry friends

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Changes to Rental Laws

Rental law reforms in New South Wales have been introduced progressively, with changes taking effect at different stages from October 2024. These reforms aim to improve fairness in the rental market and strengthen protections for both tenants and landlords.

On 19 May 2025, the first stage of changes aimed at making it easier for tenants to keep pets in their rental homes came into effect. These changes introduced new requirements for landlords, limiting the circumstances in which they can refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet at a rental property.

 

The Latest Changes Affecting Pet Owners

The latest changes to the rental laws come into effect on 2 October 2026, introducing further measures to make it easier for tenants to move into a rental property with their pets.

Under the new rules, tenants can move into a rental property with their pet and keep the pet at the property while their request for consent is being considered, provided they submit a completed pet application form within seven (7) days of entering into a tenancy agreement.

Once the landlord or their agent receives the application, they have 21 days to respond in writing. If no response is provided within this timeframe, the pet is automatically approved without conditions.

If the landlord refuses, the tenant does not have to remove their pet immediately. Instead, the pet can remain at the property for 21 days after the tenant receives the refusal.

If the tenant believes the refusal is unreasonable, they can apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to challenge the decision. If the tenant lodges an application within the required timeframe, the pet can remain at the property while the tribunal considers the matter.

These changes provide greater flexibility for tenants moving into a new rental property with a pet, while establishing clear timeframes for landlords to respond to applications and for tenants to challenge a refusal.