Can a Landlord Charge a Pet Bond in the NT?

If you are renting out a property in the Northern Territory and the tenant has a dog, you cannot charge a separate pet bond. It is prohibited under the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 — no exceptions.

The Rule

Section 29 of the Act caps the total security deposit at four weeks' rent and prohibits any additional security payments above that amount. Separate pet bonds and animal security payments fall into the "additional security" category. Charging one breaches the Act.

This is different from states like Western Australia, where landlords can collect a separate pet bond of up to $350 for a residential tenancy. In the NT, the four-week cap covers everything — general bond and pet risk combined, in a single sum.

What About Other Upfront Charges?

The prohibition extends beyond pet bonds. The Act also prohibits:

• Key deposits or remote access deposits.
• Application or screening fees (prohibited under the 2023 amendments).
• Mandatory upfront cleaning fees.

The only upfront payment you can collect alongside the bond is up to two weeks' rent in advance under Section 35. Advance rent is separate from the bond and is not part of the bond money held in trust.

Managing Pet Risk Within the Standard Bond

The four-week deposit is the only security payment you can require upfront for potential end-of-tenancy claims, including pet damage. That makes the entry condition report especially important for properties with animals.

Practical steps:

• Document everything at move-in. Photograph carpets, flyscreens, gardens, and any surface the animal might affect. The entry condition report is your baseline — for damage, cleaning, or lost-property claims against the bond, Section 112(4) requires a condition report accepted under Part 5 and an outgoing report given to the tenant under Section 110.
• Handle pet requests under NT law. For most tenancy agreements signed on or after 1 January 2021, a tenant may keep a reasonable pet unless the landlord objects in writing and applies to NTCAT within 14 days after receiving the tenant's written proposal.
• Photograph at move-out. Compare directly against the entry photos. Carpet stains from uncleaned pet accidents, torn flyscreens from claws, and garden damage from digging are all deductible under the standard bond — as long as you can show the condition at entry and the condition at exit.

The landlord can retain only the amount necessary to make good tenant-caused damage. NTCAT decides what the evidence supports; pet damage beyond fair wear and tear can be claimed against the standard bond.

The Bottom Line

You cannot charge more money to cover pet risk, but you are not defenceless. A thorough entry condition report, documented pet requests, and proper photographic evidence protect your position within the bond you are already entitled to hold.

The free Northern Territory Rental Bond Checklist covers the statutory limits at a glance. The complete guide includes the condition report process, the evidence standards for damage claims, and a depreciation estimate for assessing damage claims.

See more Northern Territory guides →