Strata laws for dogs in apartments

August 2021 saw an end to the blanket ban on animals in NSW apartments (hooray!). The amended laws were made to reflect broader community expectations and came as no surprise given an estimated 69% of Aussie households own a pet and 40% of households share their home with a dog.

Here’s a summary of the changes to the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015:

●     It’s illegal for strata to put blanket bans on animals in apartment blocks.

●     Strata need to prove that the animal unreasonably interferes with other residents' use and enjoyment of their own property, otherwise, there is no excuse to deny you ownership of a pet.

●     If the Owner's Corporation requires animals to be approved, they must make a decision within a reasonable timeframe or the animal will be automatically approved under the new law.

If you have a greyhound and are planning on moving into a new flat, or if you’re currently living in a flat and considering greyhound adoption; here are some tips on what to include in your application to maximise your chances of getting approval:

1.    Include a photo and profile of your dog with your application including breed facts (we know there are lots of myths and misconceptions about greys), sex, age and microchip registration details

2.    Highlight the individual personality traits of your pooch that make them suitable for apartment living (low tendency to bark, low energy, hypoallergenic etc)

3.    Proof of vaccinations, flea and worming schedule.

4.    Training certificates (Greenhounds - NSW Greyhounds Going Green certificate, obedience training, puppy training etc)

5.    References from any previous residences

6.    Reference from your Vet (including contact details).

If you are considering adoption, check out all of the beautiful greyhounds looking for their fur-ever homes or contact us today to discuss how we can match you with your paw-fect pet.