Pets in a Rental Property in QLD: Landlord Guide

This article is general information, not legal advice. The rules below come from the Residential Tenancies Authority's guidance on renting with pets. Confirm current approval grounds and conditions directly with the RTA before you make a decision either way.

How pet requests work in Queensland

A tenant who wants a pet at a Queensland rental property must ask for approval in writing. From the moment you receive that request, you have 14 days to respond. Don't treat that window as a soft guideline. If you miss it, the request doesn't just go away, so it pays to answer within the deadline rather than let it slide.

You also can't refuse a pet request for whatever reason suits you. Queensland tenancy law lists specific grounds for saying no, and if none of them apply to the situation in front of you, you're expected to approve. This is a real change from the old blanket "no pets" approach many landlords used, and it's worth building into your lease process now rather than finding out the hard way later.

What you can and can't do when approving a pet

Approving a pet doesn't mean you have to approve it unconditionally. The RTA gives examples of reasonable conditions, things like professional fumigation or carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy. These should address genuine wear and tear a pet might cause, not act as a penalty or an extra hurdle.

What's off the table is charging a pet bond or extra rent just because there's a pet in the property. Neither is allowed under Queensland law. Landlords who are used to charging a separate pet bond interstate are often surprised by this, but in Queensland it simply isn't an option.

That said, you're not left exposed if the pet does damage. The tenant stays liable for any pet-related damage to the property, exactly as they would be for damage they caused themselves. So while you can't collect money upfront specifically because there's a pet, you still have the usual avenues: claiming against the standard bond or pursuing the tenant directly if the pet leaves stains, scratches, odours or anything else beyond fair wear and tear.

What this means day-to-day as a landlord

In practice, this framework should shape how you handle pet requests from the moment a property goes on the market. A few things worth building into your routine:

• Set up a clear process for receiving pet requests in writing, so there's no argument about when the 14-day clock started.
• Learn the approval grounds before a request lands in your inbox, not after. Scrambling to find a valid reason to refuse after the fact puts you on shaky ground.
• Decide in advance what reasonable conditions you'd attach to an approval (end-of-lease flea treatment or carpet cleaning, say) so you can respond quickly and consistently.
• Document the condition of carpets, flooring and outdoor areas at the start of the tenancy, pet or no pet. That record is your reference point if you ever need to claim for pet-related damage.
• Keep in mind that refusing without a valid ground, or trying to charge a pet bond, can land you in a dispute you're likely to lose.

It's also worth thinking about this at the advertising stage. Being upfront in your listing about whether pets are considered, and what conditions usually apply, means fewer surprise requests and a smoother process once a tenant has moved in.

Responding to a pet request: a simple checklist

When a written pet request lands, work through it step by step:

• Note the date you received it. That's when your 14-day response period begins.
• Check whether any of the specific refusal grounds under Queensland tenancy law genuinely apply to this property or this pet.
• If you're approving, settle on any reasonable conditions and put them in writing alongside the approval.
• If you're refusing, be ready to name the specific ground you're relying on. A vague "no pets" policy won't hold up on its own.
• Keep a copy of the request, your response, and any conditions attached, as part of the tenancy record.

FAQ

Can I just have a blanket no-pets policy?

No. Each pet request has to be assessed on its own merits against the grounds for refusal set out in the law. Refusing everything without reference to those grounds isn't how the system is meant to work.

What happens if I don't respond within 14 days?

The 14-day timeframe exists for a reason, and letting a request sit unanswered isn't a safe way to handle it. If you're unsure how to respond, get guidance quickly rather than let the deadline pass.

Can I ask for a higher bond because of a pet?

No. A separate pet bond or extra rent isn't allowed in Queensland. The tenant's liability for pet-related damage is handled through the standard bond and normal damage claims, not an upfront pet-specific charge.

What conditions can I reasonably attach?

The RTA gives examples such as professional fumigation or carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy. Conditions should be reasonable and tied to genuine pet-related risks, not arbitrary extras tacked on for good measure.

Where can I check the current rules?

Always confirm the current approval grounds and conditions with the RTA directly. What counts as a valid refusal ground can get detailed, and it's worth checking against your own situation rather than assuming.

Keeping track of pet requests, approval dates and any conditions you've set is far easier when it's part of a proper lease record rather than scattered across emails and texts. EZRENT helps landlords manage this alongside the rest of the tenancy, from guided lease setup to maintenance tracking, so nothing slips through when a 14-day deadline is ticking. If you're setting up a new tenancy and want the process in one place, you can sign up and get started, or browse more guides like this one for other QLD tenancy topics.

This article is general information only and is not financial, legal or professional advice. Rules, thresholds and requirements vary by state or territory and change over time - always check the current rules with your local tenancy authority or a qualified professional before acting on anything above.