Landlords can now charge a pet bond if a tenant is keeping, or intends to keep, a pet under new rules that came into effect on 1 December 2025 (s 18AA RTA). The new rules are intended to encourage landlords to allow tenants to have pets.
The pet bond may be charged at the start of the tenancy or when the tenant gets the pet.
A pet bond cannot be charged if the tenant had the pet (with permission) before the new rules came into effect on 1 December 2025. A bond can be charged if the tenant gets a new pet.
A tenant must not be charged a pet bond for a disability assistance dog.
How much can be charged?
The maximum pet bond that can be charged is the equivalent of two weeks’ rent (s 18AA RTA). The pet bond should be proportional to the risk associated with the type of pet and the nature of the property.
If the pet bond seems excessive for the specific situation, the tenant should discuss it with their landlord.
Only one pet bond can be charged at any one time during the tenancy, regardless of the number of pets.
The amount to be paid must be stated in the tenancy agreement.
Quick tip
If the rent is increased, the landlord can ask for a proportional increase in the pet bond to be paid.
For instance, if the rent is $500 per week, a landlord could request a pet bond of $1000.
If the rent increases to $550 per week, then the landlord could ask for an additional $100 to be paid for the pet bond.
If the amount of the pet bond is changed, it is a variation to the tenancy agreement that the tenant needs to agree to and sign off on.
Pet bond refunds
The pet bond must be lodged with the Tenancy Services Bond Centre.
Find out more about lodging bonds
The pet bond will be refunded in full at the end of the tenancy if the pet has not done any damage.
The landlord can claim back money from the bond if there is damage. The damage must be related to keeping the pet and not be fair wear and tear.
Find out more about liability for pet-related damage
Pet bonds are refunded in the same way as the general bond. Normally, once the tenant and landlord have reached agreement on how much of the bond will be refunded to the tenant, the landlord will submit a pet bond refund request online through Tenancy Services' Bond Hub.
If the pet bond is not sufficient to cover pet-related damage that has occurred, the general bond can also be used if the tenant and landlord agree to this. Similarly, the pet bond can be used to help cover the costs of other tenancy-related matters if the general bond isn’t sufficient and the parties agree.
If the pet passes away or is no longer at the property
If the pet passes away or is no longer kept at the rental property, and there are no other pets, the tenant should notify the landlord and ask them to request a refund of the pet bond (s 22BA RTA). The tenant does not need to wait until the end of the tenancy to ask for the pet bond to be refunded.
The tenant may need to pay a new pet bond if they decide to get another pet later.
MSD assistance for paying pet bonds
If a tenant needs help to pay a pet bond, they may be able to apply for a Bond Grant from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). MSD will use the same criteria for a pet bond as they do for a general bond.
The maximum that MSD will grant to cover both the general bond and pet bond is four weeks' rent. The landlord can charge up to six weeks' rent (four weeks' rent for the general bond and two weeks' rent for the pet bond). So the tenant may have to pay up to two weeks' rent themselves for the bond, remembering that it will be refunded at the end of the tenancy if there is no damage.
A tenant is more likely to be successful with an application to MSD for assistance with a pet bond if the application is made at the start of the tenancy (or a tenancy renewal) and the tenant already has a pet.
Guidance from MSD indicates that they are unlikely to assist with a pet bond if the tenant gets a pet during a tenancy. MSD consider this to be a discretionary choice that is avoidable in most cases, ie, the tenant has "caused or contributed to the cost" by choosing to get a pet.
Assessment criteria for Pet Bond Grants
It is also important to note that a Bond Grant has to be repaid, usually through a smaller regular payment over time.
Last reviewed on 02 Dec 2025
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