NSW: How to Prepare a Strong Strata Pet Application: Pet Resumes, References and Approval Tips

Question: If a resident is applying for a pet, should the application include a pet overview or a pet resume about what the pet is like? Do they need pet references? What are your best tips for success?

Answer: Provide as much information about the pet as you can.

Absolutely, you’ve got to put your best foot forward as they say. So if you’re applying to your strata building for permission to keep a pet, put your best foot forward. Provide as much information about the pet as you can. Go further than just saying ‘I want to keep a 13 year old miniature schnauzer in my apartment. His name is Angus and he’s really well behaved’.

Top Tips for Submitting a Pet Application

Provide evidence that the dog is:
- registered with the local council
- microchipped and had its immunisations
- well behaved

Provide references:
- from the dogs vet.
- from other people who have lived with the dog in the past.
- if you’re moving from one apartment building to another, get some references from former neighbours to say the dog is well behaved, that it never created a problem in the 10 years that it lived in our building.
It may well be that you want to bring the dog along to an interview with the strata committee. That does happen from time to time, sit the pup on the desk and hope it behaves. That’s the litmus test.

So definitely provide full details to your strata committee because we have to remember that if someone applies to keep a pet and they don’t provide sufficient details about the pet, that may well provide a reasonable basis for the committee to reject the pet application.

The committee might say “Well, you just didn’t give us enough information about this pet. We really can’t make a properly informed decision as to whether the pet is going to be a good or bad thing for the building. Therefore we’re saying no.” And that decision may well be upheld if it’s challenged in NCAT.

This post appears in the August 2021 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.

Adrian Mueller
JS Mueller & Co Lawyers
E: adrianmueller@muellers.com.au
P: 02 9562 1266