Renters forced to choose between their pet and a roof over their heads could soon be in for relief with landlords BANNED from rejecting them
- NSW Labor leader promises to change rules around renting and pets if elected
- Currently landlords must approve pets and don’t have to give a reason to refuse
- New laws would compel landlords to give reasons for rejecting pets in rentals
People locked out of the rental market because they want to keep their pets could soon get a reprieve.
NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns promised to make rental laws much more pet friendly if he won office in the March state election.
Under current laws, a landlord has to approve a renter owning a pet and doesn’t have to give any reason for not doing so.
People with pets may find it easier to secure rental properties in NSW if proposed new laws come in (pictured stock image)
This has left many pet owners out in the cold with Australia suffering a severe shortage of rental properties.
Mr Minns vowed to change the laws to put the onus on landlords to show why a pet can’t kept.
Under his proposed changes, landlords will have a 21 days to give a reason that is acceptable to a newly created Rental Commissioner and if they don’t, tenants will by default be legally entitled to keep pets.
NSW Labor leader Chris Minns (pictured) has promised to change the laws giving landlords the default right to ban pets
Mr Minns said the aim of the policy was to take the stress out of finding a rental and make the rules simpler.
‘Just because a person lives in a rental, it doesn’t mean they can’t make it a home, and for so many people renting across our state that includes a family pet.’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘Under NSW Labor the rules will be simpler and fairer for both renters and owners.
‘Labor’s plan will streamline the process and set a firm deadline so that renters can have more certainty.’
Australia’s rental crisis has made it hard for many to find a home and bans of pets make it even more difficult (pictured stock image)
The NSW Liberal government put up similar proposed law changes for consultation but hasn’t committed to implementing them.
Earlier this year animal welfare charity Companion Animal Network Australia said the rental crisis was hard enough as it without having to choose between a home and their furry companions.
Chief executive Trish Ennis called for governments to impose regulations preventing landlords from discriminating against renters with pets.
Ms Ennis said there had been far too many pet surrenders as a result of rental and housing issues.
Queensland changed its rules in October to stop landlords banning tenants from having pets or advertising rentals with a no pet-rule.
Tenants still need consent to have a pet but landlords who reject requests have to provide an explanation on prescribed grounds.
Fiona Batemen is pictured with her cat Kitten, who she and partner James had to put down, in order to find new rental accomodation
However, the change was not universally welcomed with some property investors expressing their displeasure on social media.
An Adelaide couple was last July forced to put down their longtime pet cat to find a new place to live.
James and Fiona Bateman had to put down their cat Kitten, who they had for seven years, after struggling to find a rental place that allowed pets.
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