The Commissioner for Consumer Protection can resolve rental disputes about a tenant’s request to keep a pet or make a minor modification at their rental home. This process is called Commissioner's determinations.
Decisions made by the Commissioner are published here to help the public understand how and why specific decisions have been made.
All identifiable information has been removed from the decisions.
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In most cases, tenants can keep a pet at a rental home. Tenants must ask for permission first.
Copy of Decision Decision month and year Request Application details Summary Commissioner’s decision Decision PRD2024-1 Sep-24 Dog Tenant application to challenge landlord refusal Tenant challenge whether dog is permitted under strata by-laws. Pet not allowed.
Strata by-law prohibiting pets.Decision PRD2024-2 Oct-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep small dog (King Charles Cavalier).
Landlord applied to refuse due to unsuitable property. Landlord claimed apartment unsuitable for dog, risk of nuisance to neighbours, no back yard and balcony has small gaps that dog could fit through.
Pet allowed.
Pet must stay off the balcony until it cannot fit through the balustrade openings.Decision PRD2024-3 Sep-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep a small dog.
Landlord applied to refuse due to damage exceeding the bond and unsuitable property. Landlord concerned about floorboards.Pet allowed.
Back yard had secure fencing and was a reasonable size.Decision PRD2024-4 Sep-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep a puppy.
Landlord applied to refuse on grounds of undue hardship and damage exceeding the bond. Property was newly built.
Pet allowed.
Existing approved dog at property.Decision PRD2024-5 Nov-24 Cat Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep a cat.
Landlord applied to refuse on grounds of unacceptable risk to health and safety.Pet allowed.
No medical evidence provided to support landlord’s claim.Decision PRD2024-6 Sep-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep a large dog at property.
Landlord applied to refuse on grounds of damage exceeding the bond and ‘exceeding a reasonable number of pets’.
Landlord claimed fixtures (flooring) and garden beds were recently restored to a high standard and would exceed bond amount to repair.
Tenant agreed to always keep dog outside.Pet allowed.
Pet must be kept outside (as agreed by parties).
One cat and one dog does not exceed a ‘reasonable number of pets’ at the property, per council local laws.Decision PRD2024-7 Oct-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep a small dog at the property.
Landlord applied to refuse due to unacceptable risk to health and safety.
Landlord claimed they suffer from asthma.Pet allowed.
Medical evidence did not establish ‘unacceptable risk to health and safety’.
Dog must be removed from the property during routine inspections.Decision PRD2024-8 Sep-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep a large dog at the premises.
Landlord applied to refuse due to unsuitable property and damage exceeding the bond.
Two paved courtyards and no grass in property.Pet allowed.
References from past landlord’s suggest dog was well behaved.
Tenant had plan to manage and exercise dog.Decision PRD2024-9 Oct-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep a small dog at the property.
Landlord applied to refuse on the grounds that keeping the pet is likely to cause the landlord undue hardship (nuisance/noise to neighbours).
Landlord also claimed the premises are unsuitable for keeping the pet (insufficient space).
Pet allowed.
Photos show secure, sheltered area ourdoors, the pet to live inside, pet walked at local park.
Tenant provided positive references from neighbours.
Tenancy laws have processes in place if nusiance complaints received by neighbours.Decision PRD2024-10 Sep-24 Cat Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep cat in apartment.
Landlord applied to refuse due to unsuitable property, and that tenants initially agreed to rent out property on condition that pets were not allowed.
Pet permitted under strata by-laws.Pet allowed.
Landlord did not provide enough evidence to establish the grounds applied.
The fact that tenants initially agreed to rent out property without pets was not a relevant consideration.
Decision PRD2024-11 Nov-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request with conditions Tenant requested to keep a large dog at the property.
Landlord requested condition that dog must be kept outside at all times, so it does not damage the floorboards.
Pet allowed, no conditions apply.
Landlord did not demonstrate why the condition was reasonable or necessary.Decision PRD2024-12 Oct-24 Fish Landlord application to approve pet request with condition Tenant requested to keep an aquarium with fish.
Landlord requested condition that aquarium is kept on non-carpeted areas.
Tenant agreed with condition.Pet allowed.
Aquarium must be kept on non-carpeted areas.Decision PRD2024-13 Oct-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep a large dog at the property.
Landlord applied to refuse due to unsuitable property and damage exceeding the bond.
Pet allowed.
Property had reasonably sized back garden, which was fully fenced and had adequate shade.
Decision PRD2024-14 Nov-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep a large dog at the property.
Landlord applied to refuse due to unsuitable property (paved back patio).Pet allowed.
Back yard was fully fenced, dog regularly exercised by tenants.Decision PRD2024-15 Nov-24 Dog Landlord application to refuse pet request Tenant requested to keep a medium size dog at property.
Landlord applied to refuse on grounds that keeping a pet would exceed a reasonable number of pets and property is unsuitable. Landlord raised that two pre-approved pets were already at property.Pet allowed.
Local laws allow resident to keep up to two dogs and three cats. There is sufficient space and fencing in the back yard.
Decision PRD2024-16 Nov-24 Guinea Pigs Landlord application to approve pet request with conditions Tenant requested to keep guinea pigs at the property.
Landlord approved the request and applied to the Commissioner for a condition that the requested pets are kept outside at all times.Pets allowed. The condition does not apply, because guinea pigs are susceptible to heat stress. The Commissioner imposed an additional condition requiring the tenant to place a hard waterproof base underneath the guinea pig enclosure to protect the internal flooring. -
To help make a rental feel like a home, small, personalised changes (known as minor modifications) are allowed in most cases. Tenants must ask for permission first.
Reference number Decision month and year Request Type of application Summary Commissioner’s decision Decision MMRD2024-1 Oct-24 Picture hooks Tenant challenging landlord condition on minor modification request Tenant requested to install eight picture hooks.
Landlord applied for a condition that the tenant repaint the entire wall when the hooks are removed at the end of the tenancy.Condition refused.
The tenant is required to comply with their usual obligations in the RTA – either restore the walls to their original condition or compensate the landlord for the reasonable costs in doing so.