Pets Guide

Pet requests need a clear, property-specific response. This guide helps Warkworth and surrounding-district landlords and tenants prepare the conversation and find the current official rules.

Start with the consent position

New pet rules took effect on 1 December 2025. Check whether the pet already has approval or is covered by ongoing consent. When a new request is needed, the landlord must respond in writing within 21 calendar days. Any refusal needs reasonable grounds; approval conditions must also be reasonable.

The Tenancy Services pet-consent page explains the process and provides a request form. Keep the request, response and agreed conditions with the tenancy records.

Describe the pet and the property

• Explain the type and number of pets and their practical needs.
• Describe the property’s layout, outdoor space and fencing accurately.
• Discuss shared access, neighbouring animals or stock where relevant.
• Check applicable council requirements for the particular animal and location.
• Agree how property-condition concerns will be reported and addressed.

A larger rural section is not automatically suitable for every pet, and a town or coastal home should be assessed on its actual features. Avoid assumptions based only on a suburb or property type.

Pet bonds and existing pets

A pet bond may be permitted under the current rules; it is not an automatic charge for every pet. Check the amount, eligibility and lodgement requirements on Tenancy Services’ pet-bond guidance. Existing approved pets kept before 1 December 2025 have transitional protections, including against a new pet bond for that pet. Read the rules for existing pets.

Ask about your tenancy

For an existing tenancy, send a formal request to your named property manager using the contact details in your tenancy documents. The general enquiry form below goes to Nicole Banks and is available for questions about management services; submitting it does not itself grant pet consent.

Find rental-team contacts, explore our tenant guide or request a rental appraisal.

By Nicole Banks. Updated 15 September 2026.