Do body corporate committees have to give reasons for refusing a visiting pet request?

By admin,

We applied to have our son and his dog visit us at our unit. This request was denied:

"The xxxxxx Corporate Committee has voted on your request to have your son's pet visit the complex, and the motion was not passed, so you cannot have the dog visit."

I asked for a valid reason as to why and we have received no response.

As an owner, are we entitled to be given a 'reasonable' reason for the decision other than the committee not liking animals?

Do you need body corporate approval for visiting dogs and pet sitting in apartments?

By admin,

Can an owner / committee member pet sit dogs for friends? They bring large dogs into the complex to stay overnight. They also have friends who come over with dogs and stay for hours. Sometimes there can be up to four dogs in their apartment. No request has even been made to the body corporate for approval.

I love dogs and I am happy for residents to have a pet, but I find it unnerving if you don’t know what dogs will be in the stairwell or in common areas.

Received a Breach Notice for Having Two Cats in a One-Pet Scheme What Are Your Options

By admin,

We purchased our apartment about six months ago. At the time of purchase, we knew the body corporate had a rule that no more than one pet was allow. We have two cats. One cat is my daughter’s support animal and both cats stay inside the apartment at all times.

When purchasing, the real estate agents assured us that two pets would not be an issue as many other lot owners had more than one pet.

We have received a notice from the body corporate advising us we are not complying with the rules. How do we make this right?

Assistance Dogs in Body Corporate Schemes: Evidence Requirements and Common Property Access Rules

By admin,

Our body corporate is a park-like estate with private individual lots. Seventy per cent of the property is open space. We have a Council covenant for no cats and dogs to preserve wildlife. Fifty percent of the property is designated a conservation area on our DA. We have old by-laws that refer to guide dogs and wildlife rights.

Do body corporate committees have to approve visiting pets requested by tenants?

By admin,

A tenant has requested permission to look after a friend's pet. Are the body corporate committee obligated by legislation to approve requests for a visiting pet? What 'acting reasonably' guidelines can the committee use when considering visiting pet applications from owners and tenants? Can a lot owner refuse/not approve a tenant's request for a visiting pet?

Understanding “Residential Life” in Body Corporate Pet Rules: What It Means for Short-Term Guests and Pets

By admin,

In a recent article, Frank Higginson advised that under the new rules, "Bodies corporate will not be able to ban pets in a community title scheme, except in special circumstances". Further, "This guidance seems to make clear that pets are part of residential life – in whatever type of structure you live in".