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Tasmania has become the fifth state to abolish the blanket no-pets rule in rental properties, with changes to the state’s laws coming into effect.
The state introduced the latest version of its Residential Tenancy Amendment (Pets) Act 2025 in February, with the changes taking effect on 20 March.
Under the new laws, tenants must lodge a formal pet request, but the landlord may only deny based on reasonable grounds.
Reasonable cause applies only to genuine concerns about property damage, nuisance, or safety, and landlords have 14 days to apply to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a denial.
Tasmania became the fifth state to remove the right to refuse a pet under any circumstances, following NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and the ACT.
Landlords in NSW cannot advertise their property as “no pets” and must respond to pet requests within 21 days; otherwise, the request is automatically approved.
In Western Australia, landlords can only deny a pet if having one violates laws or strata rules, but can set a “pet bond” of up to $260.
While the reforms are set to alter the responsibilities of property managers (PMs) in the Apple Isle, McGrath Estate Agents’ head of company-owned property management, Katherine Gaitanos, said the most significant change came in the increased focus on education.
“It’s not a huge extra workload for PMs, but it’s just making sure that it (education) is within their dialogue when they’re talking to tenants,” Gaitanos said.
Minister for Small Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs Guy Barnett said the commencement of the laws marked a significant moment for Tasmanian households.
“Pets are an increasingly significant part of people’s lives, and it is fantastic that renters will no longer have to choose between a place to live and the pet they love,” Barnett said.
Barnett said the government had worked alongside the real estate industry and community sectors to help landlords, tenants and agents understand the new process and their rights and responsibilities from day one.
