Renting With a Pet (Qld)

In Queensland, a person who wants to keep a pet in rental accommodation must seek their landlord’s approval. However, a landlord may only refuse permission to keep a pet on one of the grounds set out in section 184 of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. This page outlines the laws that apply to renting with a pet in Queensland.

Seeking approval to keep a pet

Under section 184D of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, a tenant must use the approved form to seek permission to keep a pet in rental premises. The landlord must respond within 14 days of receiving the request and may approve the request, approve the request with conditions, or refuse the request.

Grounds for refusing a request

A landlord may refuse a request to keep a pet only if one or more of the following apply:

• There would be more than a reasonable number of pets at the premises
• The premises are unsuitable for the pet because of a lack of fencing, open space etc
• The pet is likely to cause damage that would exceed the amount of the security deposit
• The pet would pose an unacceptable risk to health and safety
• Keeping the pet would contravene a law, by-law, rule or condition
• The tenant has not agreed to reasonable conditions about the keeping of the pet
• The animal is not a pet

Conditions for renting with a pet

Under section 184F, a landlord may impose conditions on keeping a pet at premises. However, the conditions must be reasonable having regard to the nature of the premises and the pet, relate only to the keeping of the pet, and be stated in the written approval given to the tenant.

After permission is given

After a tenant has been given permission to keep a pet at premises, this authorisation continues for the life of the pet. It is not affected by the lease ending or by a change in the landlord or real estate agent.

Assistance animals

A landlord is not allowed to refuse a tenant permission to have a guide dog or assistance animal in their rental premises under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009.

Responsibility for pets

If a tenant has a pet living in their rental accommodation, they will have to pay for any damage it does to the property during the term of the lease. They will also be responsible for any nuisance (for example, noise) that the animal causes. 

Reasons for the changes

Pets are an important part of many Australian families. Keeping a pet can also be vital to maintaining a person’s mental health, particularly if they live alone. For this reason, many states and territories have changed their laws relating to keeping pets at residential rental properties in recent years.

The rental crisis has also led to historically low rates of rental vacancies, meaning that it is harder than ever for renters to find suitable premises to live. This difficulty can be exacerbated if a person has a pet. The laws permitting renters to keep pets, except where there is a valid reason for this to be refused, are an acknowledgement of the importance of pets in people’s lives and of the need to avoid discriminating against people who have animals.

If you require legal advice or representation in any legal matter, please contact Armstrong Legal.