Two hundred pet bonds being lodged a week – but who really benefits?

About 200 pet owners a week are forking out extra bonds for rentals to cover for any damage their fur-babies may inflict on the property.

More than 2700 pet bonds have been received in the first three months since the policy was rolled out in December – but some question whether it’s making it easier for pet owners to rent or simply helping landlords to avoid risk.

As of 9am on February 27, a total of 2746 pet bonds had been lodged with Tenancy Bond services in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

"We only received sort of 50 in the first week, but that's grown to about 200 each week and it's remaining quite steady from there," head of tenancy services Kat Watson said.

She said it was too early to say whether the introduction of pet bonds had resulted in more landlords accepting pets in their properties.

Renter Milan Lukic said it took about two-and-a-half months to find a rental for himself and his 16-year-old Labrador.

"I was sort of in a bit of a pickle in that I was trying to find a short-term tenant or tenancy and that makes it even more difficult," he told 1News.

"I had to go the social media route, put up posts on Facebook, especially pet-friendly rentals ... it was super challenging."

He said the topic of pet bonds had not come up in his recent search for a rental, but he had noticed an increase in properties listed as pet friendly.

Pet bonds came into effect on December 1, allowing landlords to take up to two weeks' rent, above a regular four-week bond, to cover any pet related damage beyond normal wear and tear – which is different to a general bond.

"With the general bond, we need to be able to look at intentional damage, so the tenants are liable for anything that's intentional, whereas when you're looking at the pet bond, it's anything above fair wear and tear," Watson said.

"The whole point of the pet bond was to give landlords some assurance that, if there was any damage, there was a way for them to reimburse that cost."

Renters United president Luke Somervell said a general bond should be enough to cover those damages.

"I think it's time to stop treating landlords as operating in a protected industry where they carry none of the risk and all of that is passed on to renters," he said.

"I think a four-week bond that is capped and that covers all the damages is more than fair."

Trade Me data showed 21% of rental listings allowed pets last December, compared to 13% a year prior.

In January, this fell to 19% of listings – still above 11% in January 2025.

NZ Property Investors Federation Advocacy and PR manager Matt Ball said he had also noticed a change.

"You don't see very often now 'no pets' included in advertisements and you shouldn't."

He said last year's Department of Housing and Urban Development survey showed more than 40% of renters already lived with pets before the introduction of pet bonds.

"Interestingly, only 11% of tenants wanted a pet but weren't allowed by their landlords, so part of the problem is not matching the tenants who have pets with the landlords who allow pets," he said.

"This law might make it easier, because maybe tenants will feel a bit more comfortable about actually asking."

He said pet bonds would be a good incentive for some landlords to allow pets if they were uncertain about it.

The laws allowed for landlords to refuse pets on "reasonable grounds" but these were yet to be tested at a Tenancy Tribunal hearing.