Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Tenancy agreements - Rights and obligations of parties

42C: When tenant may keep pet

You could also call this:

"Keeping pets in your rental home: what you need to know"

Illustration for Residential Tenancies Act 1986

You can keep a pet on the premises if your tenancy agreement says you can or your landlord gives you written consent. You must keep the pet in accordance with any reasonable conditions in the tenancy agreement or attached to the consent, see section 42G for more information about reasonable conditions. If you keep a pet without following these rules, you commit an unlawful act. You might also be liable for any destruction or damage caused by your pet, see section 49B(1)(c) for more information.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1561978.

This page was last updated on — View changes

Previous

42B: Minor changes, or

""

Next

42D: Provisions in tenancy agreements relating to tenant keeping pet, or

"Rules about having pets in your rental home"

Part 2Tenancy agreements
Rights and obligations of parties

42CWhen tenant may keep pet

  1. A tenant may keep a pet on the premises—

  2. if the tenancy agreement provides that the tenant may keep the pet or the landlord gives written consent to the tenant keeping the pet; and
    1. in accordance with any reasonable conditions set out in the tenancy agreement or attached to the consent (see section 42G regarding reasonable conditions).

      1. A tenant who keeps a pet but fails to comply with subsection (1)(a) commits an unlawful act.

      2. See section 49B(1)(c) regarding the tenant’s liability for destruction or damage as a result of a pet being kept on the premises.

      Notes
      • Section 42C: inserted, on , by section 20 of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 52).