Wellington nurse Caitlin Flanagan thought it would be easier to find a home with her cat, Edgar Allan P\u016bkeko, with the legislation.<\/p>\n
Flanagan and her cat, Edgar Allan P\u016bkeko, were even rejected from homes that already had cat doors. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere was one place that said the place wouldn\u2019t be suitable because of the hardwood floors and then didn\u2019t explain further.\u201d <\/p>\n
Jacob Holmes, an agent from Tommy\u2019s Property Management, said they have had issues with landlords digging their heels in about no pets \u2014 to the extent they dropped a client from Tawa. <\/p>\n
The client tried to use a small break in the property\u2019s fencing as an excuse, he said.<\/p>\n
The legislation lists that inadequate fencing could be a reason for not allowing pets – a reason Holmes said landlords are using as a \u201ccrutch\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe fencing\u2019s just an excuse. The reason is because they think it\u2019s going to be damaging to a property.\u201d <\/p>\n
Other reasons listed on the Tenancy Services could be that the property is too small or has unique features that could be hard to fix or dangerous for the animal. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a basic human right at the end of the day to own a pet,\u201d Holmes said.<\/p>\n
A 2024 report by Companian Animals found that 63% of New Zealand households have a pet. <\/p>\n
Holmes believed tenants with pets tended to stay longer. <\/p>\n
He wanted the rules to be more defined for what exactly is reasonable grounds, as \u201ceveryone\u2019s making guesswork.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jason Whitty, director of Rent Care felt the decision lay with the homeowner, even though the company would \u201cpush hard\u201d for pets. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf an owner does dig in their heels, obviously, we can\u2019t override their decision,\u201d Whitty said.<\/p>\n
With 65 properties currently listed, he said their portfolio is split, with about half of the properties not allowing pets. <\/p>\n
Whitty liked to be open-minded and educate homeowners along the way, rather than drop them, saying the legislation was still fresh. <\/p>\n
The legislation, under the Residential Tenancies Act, said landlords could lay down \u201creasonable conditions\u201d, such as a pet bond of up to two weeks and carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy. <\/p>\n
However, Whitty believed this bond wouldn\u2019t always be enough to cover costs, particularly if carpet needed to be replaced for urine damage. <\/p>\n
Holly Davies of Wellington pays an extra $10 a week in rent to house her cat, Skye.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great step where we\u2019ve gone to, but it doesn\u2019t cover the whole situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
He encouraged renters to contact Trade Me rental listings even if they said \u201cno pets\u201d, as this was the default setting on the site.<\/p>\n
Another property agency in the capital said listing homes as \u2018No Pets\u2019 was its \u201cnormal\u201d. <\/p>\n
The agency was still figuring out how to manage the new law, saying the team \u201chaven\u2019t had a whole conversation about it yet\u201d. <\/p>\n
Quinovic chief executive Parrish Wong said advertising properties as \u201cno pets\u201d was no longer appropriate, as the legal position is that pets cannot be refused by default. <\/p>\n
He has explained to clients that pets cannot be refused as a blanket rule.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are clear about our obligation to operate within the law. Where a property is suitable for pets under the legislation, refusing consent without valid grounds isn\u2019t an option.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cat owner Holly Davies said the power was ultimately in homeowners\u2019 hands. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou feel somewhat helpless to a landlord who says they don\u2019t want pets, despite the new legislation,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Davies found a home under the agreement where all tenants pay an extra $10 a week for any potential needs related to the cat at the end of the lease. <\/p>\n
The tenants also promised to provide carpet cleaning services after the lease. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s also that power imbalance where it\u2019s like, if the landlord says no, you feel like you can\u2019t question that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it can be anxiety-inducing, not knowing if you can have your fur-baby with you, and not knowing how things will go.\u201d<\/p>\n