What will the new pet bond mean for tenants and landlords?

New rules for tenants having pets in a rental property will begin next month with landlords being able to charge a pet bond.

The new rules mean a landlord could only reject a tenant having a pet on “reasonable grounds”.

Pet bonds could amount up to two weeks’ rent, on top of the usual four-weeks general bond and would cover any pet-related damage that was more than fair wear and tear.

But how will it work and what will it mean for renters and landlords?

The government’s head of tenancy services Kat Watson, told Nine to Noon, the 1 December change, was created with the intent of increasing choices of rental for tenants with pets.

“What it changes is the answer to whether you can have a pet is yes – unless there’s a reasonable reason to decline.

“So, you will still have your general bond and then we have the pet bond which is up to two weeks. It doesn’t have to be charged if the landlord does not want to.”

There would still be just one bond record, Watson said, but the two amounts would be listed separately.

This way if a tenant had a pet and then later, no longer had them for whatever reason they could get their pet bond back.

The new rules would not mean a landlord with existing tenants could then go back and retrospectively charge a pet bond, Watson said.

“Landlords can charge for new pets or new tenancies. Not existing pets, and there’s one bond not one per animal.”

At the end of a tenancy, Watson said although the two bonds were separate, they could them come together as six weeks’ worth of bond to be used for rent arrears or general damage if needed.

So, what if one of your flatmates has a pet, who is liable for the damage?

Watson said any pet in a rental was the responsibility of all the tenants who would be jointly liable for any damage caused.

“If there was damage it could be removed from everyone’s bond. So, it’s important to have that conversation.”

Watson said the legislation had a small list of examples of when it would be appropriate for a landlord to deny a pet on reasonable grounds.

“The key area is we haven’t gone into great specifics in the legislation because we want people to use common sense.

“So, if you’ve got dogs and the property isn’t fenced for example that would be reasonable grounds, or the pet doesn’t meet council regulations.”

Watson said it was likely the reasonable grounds would be tested in the tenancy tribunal in the coming months.

“Reasonable is there for a reason in order for that flexibility, the tribunal is expecting people will be looking to them for early cases around this.”

Watson said it was also important to note assistance dogs would be exempt from a pet bond and could not be declined by a landlord.

On 1 December, the tenancy bond system online would be updated, Watson said, which would enable people to submit the two bond amounts.

She said an automated self-service refund would also allow tenants to get same-day bond refunds if both parties agreed.