NSW Right to Keep Pets in Residential Rental Properties

Residential Tenancies Amendment (Animals in Residential Premises) Bill 2024

Private Member's Bill

19 Jun 2024: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Council

Legislative Assembly

Assent

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Topics

assistance animals disability rights housing pets in rentals rental market tenancy

Introduced by: Emma Hurst MLC (AJP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Tenants can keep an animal if the landlord gives written consent; the Tribunal can also grant permission.
Landlords must not unreasonably refuse a tenant's request to keep an animal.
Landlords are taken to have consented if they do not apply to the Tribunal within 14 days of a request.
Landlords can apply to the Tribunal to prove it is reasonable to refuse a pet.
The Tribunal decides if a landlord's refusal to allow an animal is reasonable.
Tenants must use an approved form when requesting to keep an animal.
People with disabilities keep the right to have assistance animals in rental properties.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Penny Sharpe ALP

“I contribute to debate on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Animals in Residential Premises) Bill 2024 and indicate that the Government will not be supporting the bill. This Government is committed to making it easier for renters to keep pets. Government members understand the importance of these changes for renters.”

Official source →

Scott Farlow LIB

“On behalf of the Opposition, I contribute to debate on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Animals in Residential Premises) Bill 2024. Renters across New South Wales are deeply frustrated at the lack of action from the Minns Labor Government on rental reform.”

Official source →

Abigail Boyd GRN

“As The Greens’ spokesperson for animal welfare as well as for gendered violence, I indicate our support for the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Animals in Residential Premises) Bill 2024. The bill does what the previous Coalition Government and this current Labor Government have dragged their feet on for far too long.”

Official source →

Rod Roberts IND

“I will not support the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Animals in Residential Premises) Bill 2024. I understand the intentions of the Hon. Emma Hurst. I think they are honourable. I need to make a couple of disclosures. First, I am a pet owner myself. Our five-year-old kelpie Ruby lives at home with me and my wife. Secondly, I am a landlord as well.”

Official source →

Emma Hurst AJP

“Scott Farlow; Ms Abigail Boyd; and the Hon. Rod Roberts. I will address some of the concerns raised particularly by the Hon. Scott Farlow. Many of those concerns have been well ventilated. I am not sure why we are still talking about those issues.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

Residential Tenancies Amendment (Animals in Residential Premises) Bill 2024

The Hon. EMMA HURST — 2024-05-08

The bill creates a simple regime where a tenant can make a request to their landlord, in an approved form, to keep an animal at their rental property. The landlord must not unreasonably refuse this request. If they do not respond within 14 days, they are taken to have consented to the request to have the animal or animals. If the landlord feels it would be reasonable to refuse the request, they can choose to apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal and seek an order to that effect.