As the sun begins to shine more consistently and we head into the festive season, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all our clients — landlords and tenants, tradespeople, and our wider professional partners — for being a part of the Goodwins family throughout 2025. Your trust is the foundation of everything we do, and we look forward to continuing to support you in the year ahead.

Before the holiday break, there is an important regulatory change I’d like to highlight: new pet rules for rental properties come into effect on 1 December 2025. These changes, introduced through amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, will impact both landlords and tenants, so it’s essential to understand how they will work in practice.

Here’s a detailed snapshot of the new rules:

  • Consent & Grounds for Refusal
    Tenants must obtain written consent from landlords to keep a pet. Landlords may refuse only on reasonable grounds, which may include issues such as the size or type of the property, bylaw restrictions, or the pet’s breed or behaviour.
  • Response Time
    Landlords are required to respond within 21 days, in writing, to a tenant’s pet request. If they fail to do so, consent is automatically granted.
  • Conditions
    When granting consent, landlords can impose reasonable conditions — for example, requiring a pet bond, restraining pets during inspections, or ensuring professional carpet cleaning at lease end.
  • Pet Bond
    Landlords may require a pet bond of up to two weeks’ rent, in addition to the regular bond.
  • Damage Liability
    Tenants are fully responsible for all pet-related damage beyond fair wear and tear.
  • Assistance Dogs
    Assistance dogs (e.g., certified disability support dogs) are exempt from both consent and pet bond requirements.
  • Existing Pets
    If a pet was lawfully kept before 1 December 2025, tenants do not need to re-seek consent, and no new pet bond may be charged in respect of that pet.
  • Enforcement & Penalties
    The law introduces new unlawful acts and fines: e.g., landlords refusing pet consent without reasonable grounds or failing to respond can face penalties.

The full Ministry release can be read here: https://www.hud.govt.nz/our-work/residential-tenancies-amendment-act-2024

At Goodwins, our property management team is fully up to speed on these changes. We’re ready to guide you — whether you’re a landlord structuring your consent process fairly, or a tenant navigating how to request pet permission.