00:00It's been said if you want a friend in politics, get a dog.
00:07Simple enough if you're an MP with your own home, but not if you're a renter.
00:13The Premier hopes to change that.
00:15So that the landlord can't automatically say no to a pet in a NSW rental.
00:21Relaxing pet ownership rules was one of the Premier's election promises.
00:25The government says it'll stop animals being abandoned and help victim survivors of domestic
00:30violence flee abusive relationships.
00:32If they can't bring their dog or their cat with them, that makes it even more difficult.
00:37But many landlords want the right to just say no, as the Premier discovered on Talkback Radio.
00:42$47,000 worth of damage by a tenant was paid by the landlord.
00:48I don't want to over-egg the changes.
00:50It will mean that the owner of the property, the landlord of the property, will have to
00:54have a reason if they're going to reject an application to have a pet.
00:59The government is still working on a list of acceptable reasons for refusal, but some
01:03of the examples it's given include a pet being in breach of council regulations, there being
01:08too many pets already on site, potential damage exceeding the bond, or broadly whether they
01:14believe a pet is unsuitable.
01:16A pet's suitability for a rental property could be incredibly subjective.
01:20The government says a tribunal will be able to decide, but it'll be up to the tenant to
01:25take action.
01:26Let's not put the onus on the tenants.
01:28What we know is that the landlords are in the position of power.
01:32The opposition supports the idea in principle, but wants to see the legislation.
01:36We're now 18 months since the election and we still don't have the detail.
01:40The government says it'll bring its plan to parliament next month.
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