Pet Addendum for NZ Tenancy Agreements: What to Include

When You Need a Written Variation

When you grant consent for a tenant's pet under Section 42E of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, the written response can record your decision and include reasonable conditions. Section 42G allows conditions to be included in the response or tenancy agreement. If you require a pet bond, the tenant must also agree to a tenancy variation under Section 13B.

A tenancy variation is a formal amendment to the existing agreement. It does not require a new agreement to be drawn up. Under Section 13B of the RTA, a variation must be in writing and signed by the landlord and tenant.

What the Addendum Should Cover

The approved animal. Species, breed, name, age, and identification details (microchip number, council registration number for dogs). Be specific — "one desexed female domestic short-hair cat, microchip number 900-XXX-XXX-XXX" is enforceable; "a cat" is not.

Conditions under Section 42G. List every condition you set in your consent letter: the pet bond amount, professional cleaning requirements, containment rules, any council compliance obligations. Reference the statutory section so the tenant understands the legal basis.

Pet bond details. State the amount, that it is in addition to the general bond, and the MBIE Bond Hub lodgement requirement. Note that the bond will be applied against pet damage at tenancy end.

Replacement and additional pets. State whether consent is ongoing for a specified type or number of pets. A new or replacement pet needs a fresh request under Section 42E only if it is not covered by that ongoing consent.

Breach consequences. Note that failure to comply with the conditions may constitute a breach of the tenancy agreement, and that keeping a pet in breach of the consent terms or without consent is an unlawful act under Section 42C(2).

What Not to Include

Do not insert a blanket "no pets" clause into an agreement made on or after 1 December 2025 — Section 42D(3) prohibits generic pet bans unless they cite reasonable grounds under Section 42F.

Do not include non-refundable fees, mandatory insurance requirements, or any financial condition beyond the statutory pet bond. These are unlawful under Section 18A.

Do not set conditions that exceed the proportionate standard — requiring daily professional cleaning for a fish tank, or restricting an indoor cat to a single room, would not survive a Tribunal challenge.

Keep Copies

Both parties sign the variation. Store the signed copy with your tenancy file alongside the original pet request, your consent letter, and the Bond Hub lodgement confirmation. This archive is your evidence base for any future damage claim or compliance dispute.

Our Pets in Rentals NZ guide includes a tenancy variation template pre-filled with the statutory references and condition categories, ready to customise for each approval.

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