Pets in Rental Homes

A pet request is a decision about the animal, the home and the tenancy. For Kawakawa and Moerewa landlords and tenants, a clear written process helps everyone understand what has been requested, what is allowed and what needs to happen next.

Start with the existing permission

Check the tenancy agreement and any written consent before making a new request. A pet lawfully allowed before 1 December 2025 does not need fresh permission for that same pet, and the landlord cannot use the new rules to add conditions or a pet bond for it. A different or additional pet may need a new decision.

For a pet started on or after 1 December 2025, permission must be in the agreement or given through written landlord consent. Disability assist dogs are exempt from the pet-consent and pet-bond rules. Read the current Tenancy Services pet guidance for the definitions and exceptions.

Make the request useful

Tell the property manager which pet you propose, its type, size, age and number, and how you intend to care for it at this home. Describe relevant arrangements for exercise, containment, cleaning and access during lawful inspections. Explain any property issue you have identified instead of assuming it rules a pet in or out.

For example, shared access, gaps in a fence or indoor flooring may call for a practical discussion. Neither a fenced section nor a large garden automatically establishes suitability. Relevant legal restrictions, body corporate or cross-lease rules and current council requirements also need consideration. Dog owners can consult the Far North District Council dog-management bylaw and check the current policy and access rules with the council.

A written decision with reasons

The landlord must respond in writing within 21 calendar days, including when further information has been requested. Approval can carry reasonable conditions suited to the particular pet and property. A refusal needs reasonable grounds; a blanket preference against pets is not a substitute for assessing the request.

Keep the original request date, information supplied, written decision and reasons together. If conditions are agreed, describe them clearly and specify the pet or pets covered. This makes a later change easier to address without relying on different memories of a conversation.

Understand conditions and a pet bond

A pet bond may be a reasonable consent condition. It is limited to two weeks’ rent and only one pet bond per tenancy. It must be identified and lodged through the lawful process. It does not apply to a disability assist dog or a pet lawfully approved before 1 December 2025.

Conditions must be proportionate. For example, a carpet-cleaning condition can require a professional standard where reasonable; it does not necessarily require employing a professional cleaner. Check official consent-condition guidance before setting terms. Do not treat a pet bond as a fee or a promise that every possible cost is covered.

Keep the tenancy working

Tell the property manager about a proposed change in pets, a problem with an agreed condition or any damage promptly. Arrange safe pet supervision for lawful visits and keep records of relevant issues. Disagreement about consent or conditions should use the proper discussion, mediation or Tribunal process, rather than removing a pet or changing the tenancy informally.

Talk with our property management team

Rose Pitcaithly, Property Management Team Leader, supports landlords and tenants across the Far North and Bay of Islands. Use the form below for a Kawakawa or Moerewa property-management question, including the property address and the issue you need help with. Tenants of a managed home should also use their established property-manager contact. Read about our management service or request a rental appraisal.

This is general information, checked against Tenancy Services guidance in October 2026. Get current independent advice where a particular tenancy or dispute requires it.