The RSPCA website claims 63 per cent of Australian households own pets, so when the NSW strata by-laws changed at the end of 2016, pet owners rejoiced.
One of the main changes made to pet by-laws in strata schemes was the default by-law, which meant pets are no longer banned, but allowed.
For those who would like to become a pet owner and rent in a strata scheme, here are the facts you need to know, according to NSW Fair Trading.
“Before the commencement of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, there were three model by-laws regarding pets. These model by-laws offered a choice to ban pets, to allow pets with permission, or to allow small pets without permission. One of these by-laws could be registered when the strata scheme was established, however the default by-law was to ban pets,” a NSW Fair Trade spokesperson said.
NSW Fair Trading said under the new strata laws, there is no model by-law banning pets, while the new default by-law is that pets are allowed and the owners corporation must be notified.
“The two new model by-laws either allow pets to be kept if the owner’s corporation is notified, or allow pets to be kept with written approval, which must not be unreasonably refused,” the spokesperson said.
However, Fair Trading said that rental tenants at strata schemes need to seek approval from the landlord.
“This aims to make it much easier for strata residents to own pets. As with all by-laws, it is up to the owner’s corporation to choose which by-laws will apply in their scheme,” the NSW Fair Trading spokesperson said.
