Pets and renting — share your experience!

NSW tenancy law currently allows for blanket ‘no pets’ clauses. Landlords can refuse a renter's request to get a pet for any reason. Renters in NSW are able to negotiate with the landlord to get permission to get a pet. However, the final decision is up to the landlord (unless it is an assistance animal, for example, a guide dog).

The rules around keeping pets have recently changed in some other Australian States and Territories to make it easier for tenants to keep pets. The NSW Government is now holding a consultation on whether the rules around pets in rentals in NSW should also change. You can make your own submission to the NSW Government's consultation here. 

Tell us your pets and renting experiences

The Tenants' Union supports changing NSW residential tenancy law to make it fairer for renters who have pets, and will be writing a submission in support of reform. You can read more about our position, analysis and past advocacy on pets and renting here, here and here.

We would like to hear from NSW renters about your experiences around renting and pets.

Please tell us about the challenges you may have faced securing a pet friendly property, trying to get permission for a pet, or any other barriers or challenges you have faced as a renter with pets or who would like to have pets. Please fill out our quick survey here.

We will use information you provide to us to collate a submission to the consultation that shares the views and experiences of our community of renters. You can provide as much or as little information as you feel comfortable with, and case studies will be kept anonymous in the submission.

We'll be accepting contributions until 9am Monday 27th November.

Meet with Make Renting Fair in-person to talk about pets and renting

Representatives from the Tenants' Union and the Make Renting Fair campaign will be at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park between 2pm-4pm on Saturday, 19 November, to meet with members of the community about pets and renting. Find out more about the event here: Show your supPAWt for renting pets.

Help your renting pet(s) have a say

If you're coming on down to Campo on the 19th, we'll have non-toxic, pet-friendly paint for your animal to sign on to support the call for an end to blanket 'no pets' clauses in NSW. If you can't make it along (or your fur-baby isn't park-friendly!), your pet can sign on from home.

1. Download & print the pet sign-on (below).
2. Add your pet's 'signature' paw-print using non-toxic paint (kids' fingerpaints work great!) or trace around your pet's paw onto the sheet with a pen or pencil.
3. Take a pic of your pet with their sign-on
4. Send us the pic via our survey.
5. Bonus points if you also upload your pet's sign-on to social media!