Victoria has implemented similar pro-pet laws for five years, highlighting ongoing debates about pet ownership disclosure in rental applications.

Recent tribunal cases in Victoria have shown mixed results regarding pet refusals, indicating that the interpretation of 'reasonable' often requires tribunal or court involvement.

While landlords can refuse pet applications, they must provide valid reasons, such as property unsuitability or previous tenant issues, rather than simply stating 'no pets allowed'.

Tenants have the right to take their case to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal if they believe their pet application was unjustly rejected or if unreasonable conditions were imposed.

The tribunal will evaluate pet applications individually, allowing for different outcomes if a tenant has more than one pet.

This legislation aims to increase pet ownership among tenants, who make up over 50% of residents in apartment blocks.

There are concerns that these new protections may lead landlords to shift towards short-term holiday rentals, which often impose stricter pet bans.

In addition to pet ownership laws, the City of Sydney is pushing for stricter regulations on commercial short-term rentals to enhance long-term rental availability.

These new pet regulations are part of broader changes in NSW law, which also include limits on no-fault evictions and rent increases to better protect tenants.

The Jo Cooper case established that bylaws banning all pets without justification are unreasonable, setting a precedent for future tribunal decisions.

Starting in mid-May 2025, new laws in New South Wales will prevent landlords from imposing blanket bans on pets in rented apartments, as announced by NSW Premier Chris Minns.

Under these regulations, landlords are required to respond to pet applications within 21 days; if they fail to do so, the application will be automatically approved.