Since the start of the month it has been easier for Canberra renters to have a pet, but there have been calls the changes don't go far enough.
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Tenants who signed a lease on or after November 1 in the ACT only need to ask permission for a pet if stipulated in a tenancy agreement.
If consent is required, a landlord must take the matter to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal and must prove the property is unsuitable to keep a pet.
But renters advocacy organisation, Better Renting has argued for further changes. Executive director Joel Dignam said application forms for properties that required consent would still be a barrier for existing pet owners, he said they could be discriminated against.
It comes as new research from the organisation found prior to the laws coming into effect pets were not allowed in most rentals, if a position was disclosed at all.
Better Renting reviewed almost 11,000 rental ads on listings portal, Allhomes from July 2018 to July 2019.
Less than half of all rental ads specified a position on pets, and of the 41 per cent that did only 19 per cent either allowed or indicated an openness to pets.
The search only included real estate agencies with more than 50 listings over the analysis period.
Rachael Clark is a renter with two dogs, she said the pets hindered her chances from the outset.
I reckon private landlords are more accepting because they understand that pets are part of the family.
- Canberra renter Rachael Clark
"Sometimes we go to an open home and there are 30 people there. As soon as you have dogs, you don't have a chance," she said.
"We're now really lucky that we've found an understanding private landlord. I reckon private landlords are more accepting because they understand that pets are part of the family."
Mr Dignam called for ACT attorney-general Gordon Ramsay to look into standard application forms to prevent questions that asked tenants about pet ownership.
"The ACT government has made life easier for renters to secure a tenancy to get a pet, but the biggest problem is for people wanting to find a new home, when a bias against their pet makes it so much more difficult," he said.
"Minister Ramsay should look into standard application forms that prevent lessors from asking about pet ownership."
An ACT government spokesman would not be drawn on the call from Mr Dignam.
"Renters now have access to a higher quality of life," he said.
"The government introduced these changes which echo similar reforms in other jurisdictions and follow extensive industry and stakeholder consultation.
"Pets can no longer be excluded from rental agreements in properties as part of a lease agreement and landlords will have to apply to ACAT to refuse tenants from having a pet at their property."
The Real Estate Institute of the ACT has not been made aware of any landlords who have challenged a tenant's pet ownership since the laws were enforced.
REIACT director Hannah Gill said it would be "outrageous" to not give the option for a landlord to ask for consent.
"Any fair agreement has two sides and both parties agree on that," she said.
Ms Gill said some of the best tenants were pet owners.
