NZ Pet Bond Rules: From 1 December 2025

From 1 December 2025, the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 introduced a structured pet regime into the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 — sections 49AA, 49AB, 49AC and 49AD. The amendments do four things: require the tenant to obtain the landlord’s written consent to keep a pet (s.49AA), allow a pet bond up to 2 weeks’ rent in addition to the standard bond (s.49AB), require the landlord to respond within 21 days with reasonable grounds for any refusal (s.49AC), and permit reasonable conditions on pet-keeping (s.49AD). This guide walks through each rule with the regulation reference and the practical compliance position for landlords and tenants in 2026.

Statutory Framework

The pet regime sits in Part 1 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, immediately after the bond provisions in s.18–s.19. The four sections operate together — they cannot be applied in isolation.

Primary sources:

• Residential Tenancies Act 1986: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/DLM94278.html
• Tenancy Services — Tenancy law changes: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/law-changes/
• HUD — Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024: https://www.hud.govt.nz/our-work/residential-tenancies-amendment-act-2024
• Tenancy Services — Bond information: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills/bond/

Section 49AA — Tenant Must Obtain Written Consent

Under section 49AA, a tenant must obtain the landlord’s written consent before keeping a pet at the rental property. This applies:

• At the start of the tenancy (where the tenancy agreement does not already address pets);
• During the tenancy if the tenant proposes to introduce a pet.

The consent must be written — verbal consent is not effective under the section. The Tenancy Services template tenancy agreement at https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/starting-a-tenancy/before-the-tenancy-starts/tenancy-agreements/ includes a pet-consent schedule for use at signing.

If the tenant keeps a pet without consent, the landlord may treat it as a breach of the tenancy agreement and serve a 14-day breach notice under s.55 requiring the pet to be removed.

Section 49AB — Pet Bond Up to 2 Weeks’ Rent

Under section 49AB, the landlord may require a pet bond of up to 2 weeks’ rent in addition to the standard bond.

The pet bond is separate from the standard bond — it is held distinctly by Tenancy Services and refunded according to claims relating to pet damage at the end of the tenancy.

The pet bond is not mandatory — it is at the landlord’s option. A landlord may consent to a pet without taking a pet bond.

Section 49AC — Landlord Must Respond Within 21 Days

Under section 49AC, when a tenant submits a written request to keep a pet, the landlord must respond in writing within 21 days stating either:

• Approval of the pet (with any conditions under s.49AD); or
• Refusal with reasons.

A refusal must be on reasonable grounds. Reasonable grounds include:

• Unit-title body corporate rules disallowing pets at the property;
• The property is unsuitable for the type of pet (e.g. a large dog in a small high-rise apartment without outdoor access);
• Genuine welfare concerns about the pet’s wellbeing in the property;
• The landlord has had specific past problems with similar pets at the property and has documented evidence.

A blanket “no pets policy” stated in the listing is no longer enforceable as a refusal in itself. Reasons must be specific to the request.

If the landlord does not respond within 21 days, the request is treated as approved.

Section 49AD — Reasonable Conditions

Under section 49AD, the landlord may impose reasonable conditions on the pet consent. Common reasonable conditions:

• Carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy (professional service, with receipt);
• Restriction to specific areas of the property (e.g. exterior pet area, no upstairs);
• Type and number of pets (e.g. one cat, no dogs over a specified weight);
• Tenant insurance covering pet damage;
• Vaccination and registration records for the pet;
• Notice of pet escape or biting incidents.

Conditions that are unreasonable — and therefore unenforceable — include:

• A condition that effectively makes the pet impossible to keep (e.g. “the pet must never be inside”);
• A condition that imposes costs disproportionate to the pet (e.g. NZ$5,000 deposit for a goldfish);
• A condition that breaches another statute (e.g. animal welfare standards under the Animal Welfare Act 1999).

Tenant liability for pet damage above fair wear and tear remains under s.49 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 — the pet bond and the s.49AD conditions are additional layers of protection, not replacements.

Practical Workflow

Tenant introducing a pet during an existing tenancy

1. Tenant submits a written pet request to the landlord with details: type of pet, breed, age, vaccination status, any past pet history at the property.
2. Landlord receives the request — diary the 21-day response deadline under s.49AC.
3. Landlord either approves with conditions, requests an additional pet bond, or refuses on reasonable grounds.
4. If approved with pet bond: landlord requests payment, lodges the pet bond with Tenancy Services within 23 working days under s.19.
5. Variation to the tenancy agreement signed by both parties.
6. Pet conditions logged in the agreement.

New tenancy with pet from day one

1. Pet provisions included in the tenancy agreement at signing.
2. Standard bond (4 weeks) plus pet bond (up to 2 weeks) collected.
3. Both bonds lodged with Tenancy Services within 23 working days.
4. Pet conditions included as a schedule.

End of Tenancy — Pet Bond Refund

At end of tenancy:

1. Final inspection comparing against entry condition.
2. Identify any pet-related damage above fair wear and tear (e.g. carpet stains, scratched doors, garden damage).
3. Carpet cleaning receipt obtained per s.49AD condition.
4. Either:
   • Joint signed application to Tenancy Services for refund (with the agreed split between landlord and tenant);
   • Or, if disputed, application to the Tenancy Tribunal.

The standard bond and the pet bond are claimed separately. A landlord seeking to deduct pet-damage costs from the bond must produce evidence — quotes, invoices, photographs.

Common Mistakes

What the Pet Bond Does Not Cover

• Damage above the pet bond amount — tenant remains liable under s.49 for damage caused intentionally or carelessly. The pet bond is a security, not a cap on tenant liability.
• Personal injury — pet bites or animal-attack injury are not covered by the pet bond. They fall under ACC, animal-control law, and tort liability outside the RTA.
• Other tenancy breaches — the pet bond is for pet-related claims only.

Conclusion

The 1 December 2025 pet bond regime under sections 49AA–49AD of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 ends the era of blanket “no pets” listings in New Zealand and gives landlords a structured tool — the 2-week pet bond — to manage the additional risk pets present. Written consent is mandatory; refusals must be on reasonable grounds; landlords have 21 days to respond; reasonable conditions can be imposed; and the pet bond is held by Tenancy Services as stakeholder. For new tenancies starting in 2026, the pet provisions should be in the agreement from day one. For existing tenancies, the framework applies the moment a pet request is made.

Create your pet-clause-compliant NZ tenancy agreement with Scrib🐮

¥22,000/month pass for unlimited access to all 18 document types across 7 countries. Start Free Preview →

Disclaimer

Legal information, not legal advice. MmowW Scrib🐮 is operated by a licensed Gyoseishoshi (行政書士) office in Japan. We are not solicitors, barristers, or lawyers.

Sources

• Residential Tenancies Act 1986: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/DLM94278.html
• Tenancy Services — Tenancy law changes: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/law-changes/
• Tenancy Services — Bond information: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills/bond/
• Tenancy Services — Tenancy agreements: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/starting-a-tenancy/before-the-tenancy-starts/tenancy-agreements/
• HUD — Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024: https://www.hud.govt.nz/our-work/residential-tenancies-amendment-act-2024