There are question marks over the delivery of one of Labor’s key election promises to make it easier for NSW tenants to have pets.
The proposed policy meant all tenants could request to have a pet in a rented property, with the landlord required to provide a response within 21 days. Landlords would also have to provide a reason for their refusal, and if they didn’t respond within the allotted time, the tenant’s request would be automatically approved.
Better Regulation Minister Anoulack Chanthivong was peppered with questions Wednesday about when legislation for the policy would be introduced, but he couldn’t confirm a specific timeframe.
“I think our intention is to bring this as soon as possible, but hopefully by the beginning of next year,” he told the committee.
Mr. Chanthivong said the government is working through the 16,000 responses, including 400 written responses, to a survey released in August 2023.
“The rental commissioner has asked me for a little more time to work through the significant number of responses,” he said.
“What we want to do is get the balance right because … it is certainly, and can be, a somewhat polarizing debate.”
Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said restrictions on pets in rental properties also contributed to homelessness rates, with people leaving domestic violence unable to seek accommodation. He said consultation had also been done with the RSPCA to ensure animal welfare was a priority.
“This is a big issue in the domestic violence space, people being able to find suitable accommodation,” she said.
“Parents and refuges are overwhelmed with surrenders because people can’t get rented accommodation. I just wonder why this hasn’t been prioritized and moved on quickly.”
NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones said it was the “No.1 priority” to have legislation ready for the first quarter of 2024.
She said rental reform around pets had generated a “surprising” amount of input from stakeholders, which had contributed to the delay in legislation.
“We want to promote rights and responsibilities for the welfare of animals and their people, but we also want to make it easier for people to have pets in their homes,” she said.
“So I recommended that we take the time to get it right because they don’t want to end up with a list of changes that could have loopholes that would prevent the intention.”
Ms. Hurst also questioned why further consultation was needed after a survey by the former coalition government found that 87 percent of more than 18,000 respondents said it should be easier for tenants to keep pets in their homes.
In addition to making it easier for tenants to have pets, the government is also developing a portable bond scheme. As of August 3, landlords and agents will no longer be able to advertise properties within a price range or include cost guidelines such as “offers from” or “by negotiation.
Real estate agents, assistant real estate agents, landlords and digital rental application providers will also be prohibited from soliciting higher rent amounts or risk a fine of $550 for an individual or $1100 for a business.
