Renting with pets | Renting in Queensland

Consultation has concluded

Pets are an important part of life for many Queenslanders, who often view their pets as part of the family. Nearly 6 in 10 Queensland households currently keep a pet. However, there is evidence that only a small proportion of rental properties in Queensland are pet‑friendly.

Proposed changes

We want to improve access for tenants to rental properties that allow pets, while ensuring there are effective safeguards for property owners.

The proposed reforms would:

  • require an owner to have reasonable grounds for refusing a tenant's request to keep a pet
  • define reasonable grounds for an owner to refuse
  • allow property owners to seek a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) order to exclude pets from a property for valid reasons
  • allow ‘pet bonds’ to be paid to cover the cost of pest control at the end of the tenancy

These changes to the law would be supported by educational and informational measures to help tenants, property owners and property managers to communicate about requests to keep pets.

Read more about renting with pets in the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF, 554 KB).

Pets are an important part of life for many Queenslanders, who often view their pets as part of the family. Nearly 6 in 10 Queensland households currently keep a pet. However, there is evidence that only a small proportion of rental properties in Queensland are pet‑friendly.

Proposed changes

We want to improve access for tenants to rental properties that allow pets, while ensuring there are effective safeguards for property owners.

The proposed reforms would:

  • require an owner to have reasonable grounds for refusing a tenant's request to keep a pet
  • define reasonable grounds for an owner to refuse
  • allow property owners to seek a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) order to exclude pets from a property for valid reasons
  • allow ‘pet bonds’ to be paid to cover the cost of pest control at the end of the tenancy

These changes to the law would be supported by educational and informational measures to help tenants, property owners and property managers to communicate about requests to keep pets.

Read more about renting with pets in the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF, 554 KB).