New Pet Laws in New Zealand: What Tenants and Landlords Need to Know From 1 December 2025

New Zealand is about to roll out a major update to its renting rules — and for the many Kiwis who consider their pets part of the whānau, the news is big.
From 1 December 2025, new national pet regulations take effect under the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, introducing a clearer and more consistent framework for how pets are managed in rental properties.

These changes aim to strike a fair balance: giving tenants more certainty when requesting pets, while still ensuring landlords have sensible protections in place. Here’s what you need to know.

What’s Changing?

1. Written consent for pets becomes the standard

Tenants must now obtain written permission from the landlord before bringing a pet into their rental — unless their existing tenancy agreement already clearly allows pets.

2. Landlords must have reasonable grounds to decline

Under the new rules, a landlord can only say “no” to a pet request for reasonable, objective reasons.
Examples include:

• Body corporate or apartment complex rules that prohibit animals

• A property type that genuinely isn’t suitable for pets

• A request involving an excessive number of animals

This provides greater transparency and reduces uncertainty for tenants who wish to keep pets.

3. A new pet bond can be collected

For the first time, landlords will be allowed to request a separate pet bond of up to two weeks’ rent, in addition to the standard bond.
This is designed to cover pet-related damage that goes beyond normal wear and tear.

4. Tenants remain responsible for pet damage

If a pet causes damage beyond fair wear and tear, the tenant must cover the cost of repairs.
This reinforces responsible pet ownership while giving landlords confidence that risks are manageable.

What’s Staying the Same?

Not everything is changing — some parts of the current system remain completely intact.

1. Property advertising rules are unchanged

Landlords and property managers don’t need to alter how they list properties. Your normal settings and descriptions are still appropriate.

2. “Pets allowed: Yes/No” stays exactly as it is

Listings can continue using simple indicators like “No pets” or “Pets considered”.
A listing that says “No pets” will still reflect the landlord’s preference — but tenants may still request permission later, and those requests must now be assessed using the new legal framework.

This means that a “no pets” listing no longer shuts the door entirely; it simply signals the starting point.

What This Means for Renters and Landlords

For tenants:

These changes offer improved clarity and a fairer pathway when seeking permission for pets. While approval isn’t guaranteed, decisions must now be grounded in reasonable criteria rather than an automatic “no”.

For landlords:

You retain control over whether pets are suitable for your property — but with more consistent expectations. The new pet bond also provides additional financial protection.

If you have any questions on how these new laws relate to your situation please do not hesitate to give the the at Noble Property Management a call today.