Renters who want to have a pet in the property must ask their rental provider (landlord) for permission. Rental providers must have a good reason to refuse the renter’s request. Rental providers can apply to VCAT for an order to refuse permission.

All renters, including those with pets, have a responsibility to keep their rental property clean, avoid damage, and not be a nuisance to others. The rental provider has rights if a pet causes damage or other problems.

A pet means any animal except an assistance dog, which is a dog trained to help a person with a disability. Assistance dogs do not count as pets, and people with assistance dogs cannot be discriminated against.

Pet requests

Renters who want to keep a pet should:

• complete a Pet request form. The renter must complete a separate form for each pet they want to keep.
• give the form or forms to their rental provider
• keep a copy for their own records.

The rental provider has 14 days (starting the day after they receive the form) to make a decision.

• If they agree to the renter having the pet, they should give consent in writing, using the address the renter gave on the pet request form.
• If they don’t agree, they should apply to VCAT and tell the renter they have done so within the 14 days. The renter can’t keep a pet while VCAT is making a decision.
• If the rental provider does not respond at all within the 14 days the renter can keep the pet.

It is a good idea for renters to give the rental provider information that will help them decide whether the pet is suitable to be kept at the property. This could include:

• information about the pet’s age, temperament, training or other characteristics
• references from a vet, trainer, previous rental provider or neighbour or both
• why the property is suitable for keeping the pet.

Renters should also check that the pet complies with local council laws and other laws about pet ownership. These laws apply whether or not the rental provider has given consent. Agriculture Victoria has information about domestic animal laws.

Negotiating conditions for keeping a pet

The rental provider can try to negotiate conditions for keeping a pet on the property. For example, they might say the pet is not allowed inside. If the renter does not agree to the conditions and the rental provider wants to exclude the pet, they must apply to VCAT.

Any agreed conditions should be put in writing.

VCAT’s role

If the rental provider applies to VCAT to have a pet request refused, VCAT can order that either:

• the rental provider’s refusal is reasonable and/or the pet is excluded from the property
• the renter can keep the pet on the rental property.

When making its decision, VCAT may consider:

• the type of pet the renter wants to keep
• the type of property the renter is renting
• appliances, fixtures and fittings in the property
• other relevant laws (for example, if the pet is prohibited by a local council law)
• anything else VCAT considers relevant.

If VCAT makes an order excluding the pet from the property, the renter has 14 days to comply with the order. If the renter has not complied with the order after that, the rental provider can give them a notice to vacate, with a minimum of 28 days’ notice.

Pets causing damage or other problems

Renters have legal duties and responsibilities including:

• taking care to avoid damaging the property
• keeping the property reasonably clean
• not causing a nuisance or interfering with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of neighbours.

If the renter does not meet their duties, the rental provider can give them a Notice of breach of duty to renter of rented premises (Word, 88KB). This notice tells the renter to fix the breach or pay for any damage, and states that the renter must not breach the same duty again. This could apply to damage caused by a pet.

If the renter does not comply with this notice, the rental provider can apply to VCAT for a compensation or compliance order.

When making a decision about damage caused by a pet, VCAT will consider:

• fair wear and tear
• the age and condition of the damaged item(s).

Read more about what to do when a renter or rental provider breaks the rules.

Keeping a pet without consent

If a rental provider reasonably believes a renter is keeping a pet without their consent, they can apply to VCAT for an order to exclude the pet from the property.

Pet bonds

Rental providers and owners cannot ask for an additional bond as a ‘pet bond’.

Pets in apartments and units

If the rented property is an apartment or unit, there is likely to be an owners corporation that manages common areas such as gardens, driveways and foyers. An owners corporation may have its own rules about pets in these common areas, which the renter must follow.

Rental providers or owners should give the renter a copy of the owners corporation rules when they move in.

If the owners corporation decides the pet is dangerous or is causing a nuisance, the renter may have to remove the pet.

Read more about how owners corporation rules are made and how to handle a complaint under an owners corporation.