Q

I heard tenants will soon have the right to keep pets. I’ve had bad experiences in the past (dog urine ruined my carpet). Will I be forced to accept pets?

A

Not exactly. The new law (expected later this year) will give tenants a “rebuttable presumptive right” to have a pet, meaning landlords can’t say no without a valid reason. But you can decline pets if the property isn’t suitable, there are safety concerns, or body corporate rules prohibit them. The big difference here is liability. Unlike accidental or careless damage (where tenants often aren’t liable or are capped at the insurance excess), pet damage is fully the tenant’s responsibility – no cap. You can also require a professional carpet cleaning if a pet is kept indoors. While you may not have as much control as before, there are still protections in place for landlords.

Ryan Weir

propertyscouts.nz