› Flat Chat Strata Forum › The Professionals › Keeping of Animals in Strata › Current Page
Many, many strata buildings have invalid by-laws about keeping pets. The NSW government has made multiple changes to the strata laws and regulations about pet keeping since 2010. Currently the situation is that pets cannot be prohibited from being kept in any strata Unit, whatever the by-law states, on a general basis. What I mean by that, is that only a pet that creates a real nuisance (or is reasonably and objectively likely to create a nuisance, like a goat in a small Unit), can be prevented or prohibited from being in a strata Unit. The OC must have evidence that the pet is creating a nuisance (they cannot predict or surmise that without a very, very good case), which implies that the pet has to reside in the Unit for a time, for this evidence to be collected.
But keep in mind that a lease from a landlord can prohibit a pet. But if you are an owner, or you rent and your landlord does not object, then keep your pet. If the pet makes a real nuisance while in your Unit, then the OC can take action against you to have the pet removed, but they must collect evidence to present to the Tribunal proving the nuisance. So if that is likely, then you make sure your pet behaves and you need to minimise any nuisance. And you might need to be prepared to defend the action if the OC is foolish enough to commence action, and that costs you time and money…