Pets, Fixtures & Changes to the Property

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Pets, Fixtures & Changes to the Property

Please Ask Before Making Changes

Your rental property is your home during the tenancy, but certain changes require approval before they can be made.

Queensland tenancy legislation provides specific processes for:

  • Keeping a pet at the property

  • Attaching fixtures

  • Installing equipment

  • Making structural changes to the property

Please follow the appropriate approval process before introducing a pet or carrying out work.

Keeping a Pet

If you would like to keep a pet at the property during your tenancy, you must generally obtain approval from the property owner.

The approved form for making this request is:

Request for Approval to Keep a Pet in a Rental Property – Form 21

A separate Form 21 should be completed for each pet.

Download Form 21 – Pet Request

Please send the completed Form 21 to:

Loyal Keeper Group Property Management Team
info@loyalkeeper.com.au

Keep a copy of your completed request and evidence of when it was sent.

What Happens After I Submit Form 21?

The property owner/manager must respond to a properly submitted pet request in writing within 14 days of receiving it.

The written response must state whether the request is:

  • Approved

  • Approved subject to reasonable conditions; or

  • Refused on a ground permitted under Queensland tenancy legislation

If a request is refused, the response must explain the relevant legal ground for refusal and why that ground applies.

If the property owner/manager does not respond within the required 14-day period, or the response does not comply with the legislative requirements, the request may be taken to be approved under Queensland tenancy legislation.

Can a Pet Request Be Refused?

A pet request cannot simply be refused because an owner prefers a property to be “no pets”.

Queensland legislation specifies the grounds that may be used to refuse a pet request.

Depending on the circumstances, these can include matters such as:

  • The number of animals already kept at the property would become unreasonable

  • The property is unsuitable for the particular pet because of fencing, open space or another requirement necessary to humanely accommodate it

  • The pet is likely to cause damage that could not practically be repaired for less than the rental bond

  • The pet would create an unacceptable health or safety risk

  • Keeping the pet would breach another law

  • Keeping the pet would breach applicable Body Corporate by-laws, house rules or park rules

  • The tenant does not agree to reasonable conditions proposed for approval

  • The animal does not fall within the legislative definition of a pet

  • Another prescribed ground applies

Each request must be considered according to the particular property, pet and circumstances.

Conditions of Pet Approval

Pet approval may be subject to reasonable conditions relevant to keeping that particular pet at the property.

Depending on the pet and property, lawful conditions may include requirements such as:

  • Keeping a particular type of pet outside where appropriate

  • Professionally cleaning carpets at the end of the tenancy where the approved pet is allowed inside

  • Professionally fumigating the property at the end of the tenancy where the pet is capable of carrying parasites that could infest the premises

Conditions must be reasonable and relate to the keeping of the pet.

A pet approval condition cannot lawfully require you to:

  • Pay additional rent simply because you have a pet

  • Pay an increased rental bond as pet security

  • Pay a separate pet bond or incentive

  • Purchase goods or services from a particular nominated business

  • Pay an unlawful penalty

Any conditions applying to an approved pet will be provided to you in writing.

Pet Damage and Nuisance

Tenants remain responsible for nuisance or damage caused by an approved pet.

Examples may include:

  • Damage to doors, walls or flooring

  • Damage to gardens or lawns

  • Scratching or chewing

  • Excessive pet-related cleaning

  • Flea or parasite infestation

  • Unreasonable noise or other nuisance

Pet damage is not treated as fair wear and tear simply because the pet was approved.

Approval to keep a pet does not remove your responsibility to take reasonable care of the property.

Body Corporate Properties

If your rental property is part of a Body Corporate scheme, such as some apartments or townhouses, separate Body Corporate by-laws may also regulate pets.

Approval from the property owner does not override another law or applicable Body Corporate requirement.

Where Body Corporate approval is required, additional processing time may apply.

If you are unsure whether Body Corporate rules apply to your property, please contact our Property Management Team.

Working Dogs

Different rules apply to certain working dogs, including qualifying assistance, guide, hearing, police and corrective services dogs.

Property owner approval is not required under the residential tenancy pet approval process for a qualifying working dog.

If relevant to your tenancy, please contact our Property Management Team so the appropriate records can be maintained.

Existing Pet Approval

Where a pet has already been lawfully approved, the approval generally continues for the life of that pet while the tenant continues occupying the same premises.

The approval is not automatically cancelled simply because:

  • A fixed-term tenancy expires and a new agreement begins

  • The property owner changes

  • The property manager changes

Any existing lawful conditions attached to the pet approval continue to apply.

Fixtures and Structural Changes

If you would like to attach a fixture or make a structural change to the property, you must obtain written approval before carrying out the work.

The approved request form is:

Request for Approval to Attach Fixtures or Make Structural Changes – Form 23

Download Form 23 – Fixtures & Structural Changes

A separate Form 23 should be completed for each request.

What Is a Fixture?

A fixture is generally something attached to the property that is intended to become part of the property.

Examples may include:

  • Picture hooks or other items fixed into walls

  • Additional locks

  • Clotheslines

  • Cable or communications connections

  • Window awnings

  • Air-conditioning equipment

  • Electric vehicle chargers

  • Above-ground pools and associated fencing

  • TV antennas

  • Satellite dishes

  • Grab rails

  • Other items screwed, nailed, glued or permanently attached to the property

If you are unsure whether something is considered a fixture, please ask before installing it.

What Is a Structural Change?

A structural change is a more permanent alteration to the property.

Examples may include:

  • Installing an access ramp

  • Moving or removing a wall

  • Changing a window

  • Altering the floor plan

  • Other permanent building alterations

Structural work may also require:

  • Building approval

  • Licensed tradespeople

  • Engineering or specialist advice

  • Body Corporate approval

  • Other regulatory approval

Do not commence structural work unless all required approvals have been obtained.

How to Request Approval

Complete Form 23 and provide sufficient information for the request to be properly considered.

This may include:

  • What you want to install or change

  • Where it will be located

  • Why the change is requested

  • How it will be installed

  • Whether a qualified tradesperson will be used

  • Whether building or other approval is required

  • Whether the change can be removed later

  • How any resulting damage will be repaired

  • Photos, drawings or product specifications where useful

Send the completed request to:

info@loyalkeeper.com.au

Please do not commence work while the request is being considered.

How Long Does the Approval Process Take?

The property manager/owner must consider the Form 23 request reasonably and provide a written response within 28 days of receiving it.

The response will advise whether the request is approved or refused and may include reasonable conditions.

Important

Unlike the pet request process:

No response within 28 days does not mean that a fixture or structural change has been approved.

You must not proceed unless the required approval has actually been obtained.

If no response is received within the required timeframe, the RTA dispute resolution process may be available.

Conditions of Approval

Where a fixture or structural change is approved, reasonable written conditions may apply.

These could include requirements relating to:

  • How the fixture is installed

  • Who performs the work

  • Maintenance of the fixture

  • Safety or compliance requirements

  • Removal of the fixture

  • Repairing damage caused by installation or removal

  • Restoration of the property at the end of the tenancy

  • Required Body Corporate approval

Please read any approval conditions carefully before commencing work.

Body Corporate Approval for Fixtures or Changes

If the property is part of a Body Corporate scheme, additional approval may be required.

Where:

  1. Loyal Keeper Group/property owner approves your request; and

  2. Body Corporate approval is also required,

the request must then be referred to the Body Corporate.

The Body Corporate may operate under a different decision-making timeframe.

Work must not commence until all required approvals have been obtained.

Do Not Assume Silence Means Approval

This is an important distinction:

Pet Request – Form 21

A compliant response is required within 14 days.

If the legal response requirements are not met, the pet request may be taken to be approved.

Fixture / Structural Change – Form 23

A written response is required within 28 days.

However:

No response does not automatically give you permission to proceed.

Please make sure you understand which approval process applies to your request.

Making Changes Without Approval

Attaching a fixture or making a structural change without the required written approval is a breach of the tenancy agreement.

Depending on the circumstances, unauthorised changes may result in:

  • A request to rectify the breach

  • Removal of the unauthorised fixture

  • Restoration of the property

  • Responsibility for associated repair or removal costs

  • Other action available under Queensland tenancy legislation

If you are unsure, please ask us before carrying out the work.

Minor Decorations and Wall Attachments

Do not assume that a change is exempt from approval simply because it appears minor.

Items involving:

  • Drilling

  • Screws

  • Nails

  • Adhesives

  • Wall-mounted televisions

  • Shelving

  • Additional hooks

  • Security equipment

  • Cabling

  • Other fixed installations

may constitute fixtures or may damage the property.

Please contact us or submit Form 23 before making the change if approval may be required.

Need Approval or Have a Question?

For pet requests, fixtures, structural changes or questions about modifying the property:

Loyal Keeper Group Property Management Team

Phone: 1300 880 824
Email: info@loyalkeeper.com.au

Please make requests in writing so that there is a clear record of the proposed change and any approval conditions.

Official RTA Information

For current Queensland Government information:

RTA – Renting with Pets

RTA – Form 21 Pet Request

RTA – Fixtures & Structural Changes

RTA – Form 23 Fixtures & Structural Changes