How to find a pet friendly rental property

The best place to find a pet-friendly rental property in New Zealand is on Trademe.co.nz. Here’s how you can get started:

1. Visit Trademe.co.nz.
2. Plug in your location and property details (i.e. rent per week and number of bedrooms). 
3. Click the ‘Pets OK’ box below the search bar.
4. Hit search. 

At the time of writing there were almost 650 pet friendly properties in Auckland, 25 in Dunedin, 215 in Christchurch and 232 in Wellington. 

Extra for experts: If you’d like to be notified when new pet friendly rentals in your area are listed you can also save the search using the little heart button next to the search bar, then set email reminders in the favourites section of the My Trade Me menu. 

Finding a pet friendly rental property is one thing, but having your application accepted is another. Here are a few tips to help you make your pets more attractive to landlords:

• Create a pet CV: this should include a photo of your pet and a short description, including your pet’s breed and age - plus information about your pet’s registration and care routine. 

• Include pet testimonials: ask previous landlords or neighbours to write a testimonial about your furry friend verifying that they are well behaved, quiet and did not cause damage. 

• Offer to pay a pet bond after the laws change: pet bonds are not allowed under the Residential Tenancies Act at the time of writing (April 2024) and bonds are currently capped at 4 week’s rent. However, the coalition government plans to change these laws - more on this later. 

• Offer your landlord assurances: simply ensuring your landlord that you’ll fully repair any damage your pet does beyond fair wear and tear can go a long way. 

• Offer a professional carpet clean: pets can be hard on carpet and other surfaces. Offering to have the carpet cleaned before you leave the tenancy may help set the landlord’s mind at ease. 

It’s important to make your pet seem attractive in your application, but don’t forget - you’re a package deal. Your application should also paint you in a good light, as a responsible tenant to maximise the chance of you and your pet being accepted. 

Read more about securing a rental property.

In May 2024 the coalition government plans to amend the residential tenancies act to allow pet bonds. These changes should come into effect in late 2025. 

Here are the details:

• Landlords can charge an additional ‘pet bond’ equal to two week’s rent to cover any damage that may be caused by pets. 

• Tenants are to be liable for all pet damage to properties beyond "fair wear and tear".

• Tenants can only have a pet with the consent of the landlord, who could withhold consent on "reasonable grounds".

These law changes are designed to make it easier for tenants to find and secure a pet friendly rental by reducing the risk of loss for landlords.