Tasmanian renters have moved a step closer to securing the right to keep pets after new legislation passed the state’s lower house on Tuesday.
The Residential Tenancy Amendment (Pets) Bill introduces a permission-based system where tenants can apply to keep pets.
Landlords will only be able to refuse on specific grounds approved by Tasmania’s Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
If landlords fail to respond to a request within 14 days, consent will be automatically granted.
Deputy Premier Guy Barnett said Tasmanians should not have to choose between somewhere to live and the pet they love.
“Similar laws already operate in other Australian jurisdictions, including Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory,” he said.
Greens housing spokesperson Vica Bayley welcomed the bill’s passage through the House of Assembly, calling it “a great step forward for renters who have pets”.
“Pets are part of the family and they deliver so many benefits, from health and wellbeing, to education and responsibility,” he said.
“Having a pet shouldn’t impact Tasmanian renters’ ability to find a safe and affordable home.”
Bayley said many renters had been forced to make heartbreaking choices between their pets and housing during the state’s cost-of-living and housing crises.
He credited community pressure – particularly from the Tenants’ Union and the Dogs Home of Tasmania – with pushing the Liberals to adopt the policy during the 2024 election campaign.
Under the new framework, landlords can only refuse permission if a pet would cause a nuisance, create damage beyond normal wear and tear or pose safety risks.
Unregistered dogs and cats without microchips remain banned, while guide dogs and assistance animals are exempt from the rules.
Tenants will still be liable for damage caused by pets beyond reasonable wear and tear, with landlords able to recover costs from bonds.
The bill now heads to the Legislative Council, where it must pass before becoming law.
