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Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Tenancy agreements - Rights and obligations of parties

42F: Reasonable grounds for prohibiting tenant from, or refusing tenant consent for, keeping pet

You could also call this:

"When you can't have a pet in your rental home"

Illustration for Residential Tenancies Act 1986

You can be stopped from having a pet in your rental home for some reasons. These reasons include if the home is not suitable for the pet. A rule or bylaw may also prohibit pets. You can also be stopped if you have not followed the rules about pets before. The type or number of pets may not be suitable for the home. This could be because they are too big or might cause damage. If a dog is classified as dangerous under the Dog Control Act 1996, you might not be able to have it. You might not be able to have a pet if it has attacked someone before. You need to agree to conditions about having a pet. If you have not followed these conditions before, you might not be able to have a pet now.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1561981.

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42G: Reasonable conditions relating to tenant keeping pet, or

"Rules for having a pet in a rental home"

Part 2Tenancy agreements
Rights and obligations of parties

42FReasonable grounds for prohibiting tenant from, or refusing tenant consent for, keeping pet

  1. For the purposes of sections 42D and 42E, reasonable grounds for prohibiting a tenant from keeping a pet in a tenancy agreement or refusing consent for a tenant to keep a pet include the following (for example):

  2. the premises are not suitable for the pet or pets (for example, because of the size or fencing of the premises, or other unique features of the premises):
    1. a rule or bylaw applying to the premises under this Act or other legislation prohibits the pet or pets from being kept on the premises:
      1. the tenant has not complied with relevant bylaws relating to the pet or type of pet:
        1. the pet or pets are not suitable for the premises—
          1. due to the number of pets; or
            1. due to their size or type (for example, their species or breed); or
              1. due to their propensity for causing damage to premises or disruption to other persons residing in the neighbourhood; or
                1. because they include a dog that has been classified as dangerous or menacing under the Dog Control Act 1996; or
                  1. because there is good reason to believe they have previously attacked persons, livestock, or other pets:
                  2. the tenant has not agreed with a reasonable condition to which the landlord proposes to make the tenancy agreement or the consent subject:
                    1. the tenant has previously failed to comply with a reasonable condition relating to the tenant keeping a pet.

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