On 2 March 2020, new laws on pets and renting came into effect for the state of Victoria in Australia.
Tenants wishing to keep a pet are now required to obtain the landlord’s consent through completion of a Pet request form. Landlords can only refuse a pet request if the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) orders that it is reasonable to do so. The VCAT will take into consideration factors such as the type of animal the tenant is looking to bring onto the premises and whether its introduction is suitable for the current living arrangement.
Whilst landlords will not be able to ask for an animal bond, tenants will nevertheless be liable for any damage that happens as a result of the pet during the tenancy.
For many people, pets are part of what makes a house feel like a home. This rule change has been welcome by animal welfare advocates, who have argued that the previous law was unfortunately responsible for many people giving up their pets in order to keep renting. In a report by the Victorian RSPCA in 2017, it was estimated that nearly 1,200 dogs or cats were surrendered to them over two years from renters who were not able to keep them due to their tenancy requirements.