Review of Northern Territory rental laws will explore making life easier for pet owners

TERRITORY renters might soon have an easier time finding a property where they can keep a pet, and might be able to bang picture hooks into the wall without having to beg permission from their landlord.

The Territory government is considering reforms which might make it easier for renters to own pets.

TERRITORY renters might soon have an easier time finding a property where they can keep a pet, and might be able to bang picture hooks into the wall without having to beg permission from their landlord.

A discussion paper, released on Saturday as part of a sweeping review of the Residential Tenancies Act, has proposed a series of 18 reforms and opened up nine questions for public comment.

The questions include how to make renting easier for dog and cat owners and whether renters should be allowed to make “minor alterations” like nailing picture hooks in the wall without having to ask the landlord.

Turtles carry their homes on their back, so are less in need of reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 (NT) PICTURE: Katrina Bridgeford.

The paper, which is open for public comment until late August, says some people view pet ownership as a “basic right” but that “most” Territory landlords did not allow pets.

Real Estate Institute NT chief executive Quentin Kilian said he had been lobbying for years for landlords to be able to hold a “pet bond” to cover any potential damage.

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“We want to encourage more landlords to be comfortable with allowing pets,” Mr Kilian said.

He said the “pet bond” had worked well in Western Australian and South Australia, although discussion paper, authored by Department of Attorney-General bureaucrats, said there were “equally valid” argument against pet bonds.

“These (arguments) include that the assumption that pets cause nuisance and damage to property is false,” the discussion paper says.

“Albeit tongue in cheek, it has also been suggested that if pet bonds are to become the norm, regulators should also introduce child bonds given the propensity for children to cause damage.”

Attorney-General Natasha Fyles said she hoped any reforms would “addresses community needs and reflects modern practices”.

Reuben working hard at the NT News. We let him come to the office but some heartless landlords might not let him move in. PICTURE: Katrina Bridgeford.

Mr Kilian said allowing renters to make “minor alterations” without approval from the landlord, such as putting up picture hooks, “treads on very dangerous ground” and that property owners shouldn’t be lumped with the cost of undoing alterations when renters moved out.

He said the current rental laws needed to be reviewed, and said there needed to be a “balance of fairness” between the rights of landlords and renters.

“It’s not a bad Act at all, but it’s old, it needs modernisation and restructuring.”