New pet rules for renters from 1 December

Pet ownership is a wonderful thing – for humans and animals alike. Adopting a pet can reduce stress, encourage healthier habits, and bring happiness and companionship, while giving an animal in need a loving home.

Data tells us that at least a third of New Zealanders rent their homes, and until now, this has presented a significant barrier to pet adoption for many. Under previous rules, rental properties often had blanket “no pets” policies, which stopped a significant portion of the population from adopting.

But on 1 December 2025, things are set to change! The government’s changes to tenancy rules will allow more pets into rented homes around the country. This will mean increased wellbeing for renters – and it could also have a huge impact on animal welfare in New Zealand.

From the most recent CANZ survey, we learned that of respondents who do not currently own a companion animal, 60% would like to. This equates to an estimated 22%, or approximately 440,000, households in New Zealand. As we continue to struggle with animal overpopulation, we're celebrating this welcome change, which could open the doors of a significant number of suitable, loving homes around the country.

• Renters can now ask their landlord for written consent to have a pet in their home. This applies to existing tenancies without current pets, and tenancies that begin on or after 1 December.
• Landlords must say yes, unless they have reasonable grounds to say no (like property suitability or bylaw restrictions).
• Landlords must respond to their tenant’s request within 21 days. If they don’t, or they say no without a good reason, they could be fined up to $1,500 NZD.
• If consent is given, landlords can choose to charge a pet bond in addition to general bond, which can be up to two weeks’ rent. Only one pet bond can be lodged per household, even if tenants have multiple pets.
• Landlords can set reasonable conditions when giving consent, like requiring that certain cleaning tasks be completed at the end of a tenancy. Tenants remain responsible for pet-related damage that is more than fair wear and tear.
• Landlords cannot ask tenants for a pet bond, or introduce new conditions, for any existing pets they approved prior to 1 December 2025.

We look forward to the benefits these changes will create for New Zealanders and animals around the country, improving wellbeing and opening doors to animals in need. For more details, see the Tenancy Services website – and if you're a renter who’s ready to adopt, scroll through our adorable animals here!