Question mark over NSW’s proposed pet rental reforms

Questions have been asked about an election promise to make it easier for renters to do one thing while leasing properties.

There are question marks over the delivery of one of Labor’s key election promise to make it easier for NSW renters to have pets.

The proposed policy meant all renters could request to own a pet at a leased property, with the landlord required to provide an answer within 21 days. Landlords would also need to supply a reason for their refusal, and if they don’t respond in the allocated time frame, the renter’s request would be automatically approved.

Better Regulations Minister Anoulack Chanthivong was peppered with questions on Wednesday about when legislation for the policy would be introduced; however, he couldn’t confirm a specific time frame.

“I think our intention is to bring this as soon as we can, but hopefully (this will be) by early next year,” he told the committee.

Better Regulations Minister Anoulack Chanthivong says the government ‘wants to get the balance right’. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Adam Yip

Mr Chanthivong said the government was working through the 16,000 responses, including 400 written responses, to a survey released on August 2023.

“The rental commissioner has asked me for a little bit more time to work through the significant number of responses,” he said.

“What we want to do is to get the balance right because … it is certainly, and can be, a somewhat polarising debate.”

Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said pet constraints on rental properties also contributed to homelessness rates, with people leaving domestic violence unable to seek housing. He said consultation had also been done with the RSPCA to ensure animal welfare was a priority.

“This is a huge problem within the domestic violence space of people being able to find suitable accommodation,” she said.

“Parents and shelters are overrun with surrenders due to the fact that people can’t get rental properties. I’m just wondering why this hasn’t been made a priority and moved quickly on.”

The proposed laws would make it easier to renters in NSW to apply to have a pet. Picture: iStock

NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones said it was the “No.1 priority” to have the legislation ready for the first quarter of 2024.

She said the rental reform around pets brought a “surprising” amount of opinions from stakeholders that had contributed to the delay in legislation.

“We want to promote rights and responsibilities for the welfare of animals and their humans but also make it easier for people to have pets in their home,” she said.

“So I recommended that we take the time to get it right because they don’t want to end up with a list of changes that could have loopholes that would prevent the intention.”

Ms Hurst also questioned why further consultation was needed after a survey by the former Coalition government found 87 per cent of more than 18,000 respondents said it should be easier for renters to keep pets in their home.

In addition to making it easier for renters to have pets, the government is also designing a portable bonds scheme. As of August 3, landlords and agents will no longer be able to advertise properties within a price range or include cost guidelines like “offers from” or “by negotiations”.

Real estate agents, assistant real estate agents, landlords and digital rental application providers will also be barred from soliciting higher amounts of rent or risk a fine of $550 or an individual or $1100 for a business.