Pets and Renting Under the Residential Tenancies Act

In late 2025, important updates to the Residential Tenancies Act will make it easier for pet owners to secure a rental home. For the first time, tenants will have the legal right to request a pet, and landlords will only be able to decline on reasonable grounds.

This reform aims to strike a balance between giving tenants more flexibility and ensuring landlords have confidence that their properties will remain well cared for. The new rules are expected to take effect in late 2025.

1. How Pet Consent Will Work
If a tenant asks to keep a pet:

• Landlords must respond within 21 days.
• The landlord must say yes, unless there are reasonable grounds to say no.

Reasonable grounds may include:

• The property isn’t suitable (e.g. no fencing, very small space).
• Local rules or bylaws prohibit pets.
• The pet is dangerous, disruptive, or has a history of attacks.

Consent can also include reasonable conditions, such as:

• Limiting the type or number of pets.
• Charging a pet bond.

2. Pet Bond and Responsibility for Damage
Landlords will be able to charge a pet bond of up to two weeks’ rent, on top of the general bond (which remains capped at four weeks’ rent).

• The pet bond must be listed in the tenancy agreement.
• It must be lodged with Tenancy Services.
• If rent increases, the pet bond can be topped up (just like the general bond).

Tenants will be fully responsible for any pet-related damage beyond fair wear and tear. This includes damage caused directly by the pet or resulting from keeping one on the property.

When Do the New Rules Start?

• The changes are scheduled for late 2025 (exact start date still to be confirmed).
• They will apply only to new tenancies signed after the rules come into effect.
• Pets already approved under existing agreements will not be impacted, provided they were allowed under the tenancy terms.

What This Means for Landlords and Tenants

• For tenants, these reforms open the door to more rental opportunities without having to surrender beloved pets.
• For landlords, the ability to charge a pet bond and set reasonable conditions provides reassurance that properties will remain protected.
• As the date approaches, more guidance and resources will be shared to ensure both landlords and tenants clearly understand their rights and responsibilities.