What to do today
If you want a pet in a Victorian private rental (or your request was ignored or refused):
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Send the prescribed Pet Request Form today. Download CAV's Pet request form (Word). Complete a separate form for each pet. Give the form to your rental provider (landlord) or agent the way your agreement allows, and keep a copy with the date you sent it.
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Diary the 14-day clock. CAV says the provider has 14 days, starting the day after they receive the form, to decide. Put that end date in your calendar.
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Help them say yes. CAV suggests including the pet's age, temperament, and training, references from a vet, trainer, previous provider, or neighbour, and why the property suits the pet. Also check local council animal rules. Those council rules still apply even if the provider consents.
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Read what happens at day 14.
- Written consent: you may keep the pet on the terms agreed. Put any conditions (for example "not indoors") in writing.
- No response at all: CAV says you can keep the pet. That silence is treated as permission.
- Refusal path: the provider must apply to VCAT and tell you they have done so within the 14 days. You cannot keep the pet while VCAT is deciding.
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Do not move the pet in first and ask later. CAV says if a provider reasonably believes a renter is keeping a pet without consent, they can apply to VCAT for an order excluding the pet. Fix the paperwork before the animal arrives.
Worked example
Priya wants a desexed indoor cat in her Melbourne flat. On Monday she emails the agent the completed CAV Pet Request Form plus a vet reference and keeps the sent email. The 14-day clock starts Tuesday. Day 14 ends on the following Monday fortnight.
If the agent replies in writing that the cat is approved, Priya brings the cat in and keeps that email with the lease. If the agent never replies by the end of day 14, CAV's rule means Priya can keep the cat. If on day 10 the agent says "no pets" but does not apply to VCAT or tell Priya they have applied, that is not the valid refusal path CAV describes. If the agent does apply to VCAT within the 14 days and tells Priya, she waits. She does not bring the cat in until VCAT decides she can.
If the landlord applies to VCAT
CAV says VCAT can order that the refusal is reasonable and the pet is excluded, or that the renter can keep the pet. VCAT may consider the type of pet, the type of property, fixtures and fittings, other laws (including council bans), and anything else it finds relevant.
If VCAT excludes the pet, CAV says the renter has 14 days to comply. After that, the provider can give a notice to vacate with a minimum of 28 days. Check current VCAT fees rather than an old dollar amount. Many renting disputes also go through free RDRV first, but pet-consent refusals under these rules are a VCAT application by the provider.
Conditions, damage, and "pet bonds"
The provider can try to negotiate conditions (for example keeping the pet outside). If you do not agree and they want to exclude the pet, CAV says they must apply to VCAT. Agreed conditions should be in writing.
You still have to keep the property reasonably clean, avoid damage, and not create a nuisance. If a pet causes damage, the provider may use a breach-of-duty notice. CAV is clear that providers cannot ask for an extra "pet bond".
Assistance dogs (side note)
CAV defines a pet as any animal except an assistance dog (a dog trained to help a person with a disability). Assistance dogs are not treated as pets under these pet-request rules, and people with assistance dogs cannot be discriminated against for that reason. See CAV's pets page and equal-opportunity guidance rather than using the Pet Request Form as if the dog were an ordinary pet.
Where these rules do not fully apply
CAV and LawHub say the pet-request scheme is aimed at residential rental properties. Rooming houses, caravan parks, and residential parks have different rules. Pets already living at the property with consent before the March 2020 reforms are treated differently on Tenants Victoria's page. If that is your situation, read Tenants Victoria: Pets and your tenancy and CAV before relying on the 14-day clock.
Where to get help
Consumer Affairs Victoria: 1300 558 181
Pets in rental properties
Pet request form
Tenants Victoria: 1800 068 860
Pets and your tenancy
LawHub (professionals): Pets
VCAT: 1300 018 228 · Current fees
RDRV: rdrv.vic.gov.au (free for many renting disputes)