Pets in a body corporate

Understanding the government’s stance on pet ownership is important, especially considering the stringent regulations governing body corporate, which significantly influences how it functions.

In 2022, Queensland underwent a significant legislation change, giving tenants the right to own pets. While this primarily impacted tenants and landlords, it serves as a clear indication that the government supports pet ownership for both owners and tenants, unless there is a compelling reason not to.

This is a big change from previous approaches, highlighting the societal shift towards pets as integral members of the family unit.

For owner-occupiers, this pet right was already in place within bodies corporate. While an approval process was, and still is, required, the focus has shifted from asking whether a person should be allowed to have a pet, to the mechanics of how to make that happen.

Landlords in Queensland are no longer permitted to reject pets in their properties unless, as previously mentioned, there is a compelling reason not to. The grounds for refusal are outlined in the law and are very narrow.