Goodwins

The Labrador ruling
-- Christchurch Labrador puppy unlikely author of NZ’s first judicial interpretation of pet rules

While most landlords realise that a blanket "no pets" policy no longer applies under changes to the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024, Tenancy Tribunal principal adjudicator Brett Carter’s recent ruling lays out the policy in practice, and what happens when landlords get it wrong.

Adjudicator Carter acknowledged that noise, deck safety, and the absence of proper fencing were all understandable issues raised by the concerned landlord. But what he found was that those concerns could be addressed through conditions, and that where reasonable conditions exist, they must be applied rather than used as grounds to refuse a pet (a puppy, in this case).

Read more:
https://www.goodwins.co.nz/client-resources/keeping-our-clients-updated/the-labrador-ruling-christchurch-puppy-unlikely-author-of-nzs-first-judicial-interpretation-of-pet-rules/