The old argument between tenants and landlords about pets in rental homes is being reignited with the Department of Customer Service calling for community opinion on two public consultations.
Announced by the Minister for Fair Trading, Victor Dominello, the Departments is seeking feedback on the rules about keeping pets in rental homes and on 2019 laws which allow people to terminate residential leases in order to escape violent relationships.
Mr Dominello said that although pet ownership was on the rise, NSW landlords could refuse to allow a tenant to keep an animal without providing any reason – unless it was an assistance animal.
“We are aware other jurisdictions have reformed their laws to make it easier to keep pets in rental properties, and we want to hear feedback from tenants, property managers, landlords and the general public on our current rules and whether they should be changed,” Mr Dominello said.
He said the consultation on domestic violence rental laws sought to ensure that the laws were still fit for purpose.
“These laws empower victims of domestic violence to take direct and immediate action to end a fixed-term or periodic tenancy without penalty, including ending a tenancy agreement to protect a dependent child,” the Minister said.
“The changes were introduced to reduce some of the barriers preventing victims from fleeing domestic violence and to give greater certainty about ending the tenancy,” he said.
“The laws also ensure victims are not responsible for any damage caused by a domestic violence perpetrator during a domestic violence offence.”
Mr Dominello said under the current law, non-perpetrator co-tenant/s had a two-week grace period where they only had to pay a portion of the rent, giving them time to find a new co-tenant or apply to the Tribunal to have their tenancy terminated.
He said both consultations were open until 2 December.
The consultation on keeping pets in rental homes can be accessed at this PS News link and on the review of domestic violence rental laws at this link.
