WA Pet Bond Rules for Landlords

The $260 Cap

The maximum pet bond in Western Australia is $260 total per tenancy — not per animal. If a tenant has two dogs and a cat, the most a landlord can collect is still $260 total.

The pet bond sits on top of the standard security bond (up to four weeks' rent for properties at $1,200/week or below). Include it in the amount lodged with the Bond Administrator within 14 calendar days of receipt, and identify the pet-bond amount separately on the receipt.

When a Landlord Can Charge It

A pet bond can only be collected when the tenant has been approved to keep a pet at the property. Under the WA tenancy reforms, tenants submit a pet request using Form 25. Once the landlord has received a Form 25, they have 14 calendar days (starting the day after receipt) to either consent, propose conditions, or apply to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection for approval to refuse or impose non-standard conditions.

If the landlord simply ignores the request or sends an informal email saying "no" without applying to the Commissioner, the pet request is automatically approved on day 15. At that point the landlord can collect the $260 pet bond and lodge it with the Bond Administrator via a Variation of Security Bond form.

Assistance Animals Are Exempt

Assistance animals — guide dogs, hearing dogs, and other recognised assistance animals — are not classified as pets under Western Australian law. A landlord cannot require a pet bond or supplementary fee for an assistance animal.

What the Pet Bond Covers

The pet bond exists specifically to cover costs resulting from keeping the approved pet:

• Pet-related property damage — scratched doors, chewed skirting boards, damaged garden beds
• Carpet cleaning and fumigation — flea treatment, odour removal, deep cleaning caused by the animal
• Stain removal — urine stains, vomit marks, or other pet-related soiling

The pet bond does not cover general cleaning, normal wear from foot traffic, or pre-existing damage. Landlords must prove that the claimed costs are specifically attributable to the pet, backed by the comparative Form 1 Property Condition Report and dated photographs.

Lodging and Returning the Pet Bond

The pet bond follows the same lodgement and release process as the standard security bond:

1. Issue a written receipt to the tenant immediately upon receiving the $260
2. Lodge with the Bond Administrator within 14 days via BondsOnline or a manual form
3. At the end of the tenancy, include the pet bond in the Security Bond Release Application
4. Any disputed portion goes to the Commissioner for determination

Failing to lodge the pet bond within 14 days carries the same penalties as late lodgement of a standard bond — a $2,000 infringement notice or up to $20,000 at court.

Depreciation Applies to Pet Damage Claims

If a pet destroys a carpet that was already seven years into a ten-year useful life, the landlord cannot claim the full replacement cost. The allowable deduction is the depreciated value: replacement cost multiplied by the remaining useful life as a fraction of total expected life. A $1,000 carpet with three years left means a maximum claim of $300.

The Rental Bonds in Western Australia guide includes a depreciation calculator template and a pet bond tracking section that walks through the lodgement, variation, and exit claim process step by step.

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