In March 2026 new laws around having pets in rentals make it easier to get approval to have pets in your rental property. There are still rules you need to follow.
Do I need permission to keep a pet in a rental property?
You still need to get permission before getting a pet. However, your landlord is not allowed to unreasonably refuse to this request.
To ask for permission, you need to give your landlord a completed copy of the approved form located on the CBOS website. Your landlord has 14 days to object in writing to the request. If they refuse your request, they must also make an application to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT).
If you do not hear from your landlord after 14 days, they are taken to have agreed, and you can keep the pet on the property.
What do I do if my landlord doesn’t let me have a pet?
If your landlord does not agree to your request, it will be up to TASCAT to work with you and the landlord. If you can’t reach an agreement with TASCAT’s help, then the tribunal will make the decision.
If your landlord has made an application to TASCAT, you will receive a notice with information about the next steps. You will need to provide TASCAT with any additional evidence on why you think the landlord’s refusal is unreasonable. For more information about the process once the matter is with TASCAT, check out their factsheet.
TASCAT may decide a pet cannot be at the property for reasons like:
- It is likely to cause a nuisance on the property.
- It’s likely to cause damage beyond reasonable wear and tear.
- It’s likely to pose an unacceptable risk to persons or other animals at the property.
It is important that, if your landlord has refused your request for a pet, you do not keep the pet at your property until you have reached an agreement with the landlord, or until TASCAT has made an order allowing you to have the pet.
Can my landlord agree only if I follow certain conditions?
You and your landlord can agree to certain conditions you have to follow. Conditions may include things like that the animal is kept up to date with flea treatments, that you clean up after the pet, or that the pet is to be kept outside. The landlord cannot put these conditions in place without your agreement – this would be considered a refusing your request and would need to go to TASCAT.
Your landlord cannot ask you to pay a pet bond, increase your security bond, or increase your rent in return for permission to have a pet.
What if my strata rules say I can’t have a pet?
You still need to follow your strata rules when deciding if you get a pet. The new laws do not override existing strata rules about keeping animals.
I already have permission to have a pet – do I need to reapply?
If you already have permission for your pet prior to 20 March 2025, you do not need to request permission again with the new form. You will need to use this form if you want to get another pet during your tenancy.
What if my animal is a guide dog, hearing dog or accredited assistance animal?
Guide dogs, hearing dogs and accredited assistance animals do not require permission to be kept on a property.
It is not unlawful for a landlord to request evidence that your animal is an accredited assistance animal.