Over the years, I have had many clients ask me whether they can keep pets in their Unit, Villa, Townhouse or any other strata complex. This is sometimes a very emotional issue for buyers looking to purchase, especially first home buyers.
Just because there may be other pets in the complex, does not necessarily mean that you can keep a pet. The Body Corporate still needs to assess your individual application.
The answer to whether pets can be kept on a strata property depends on the by-laws passed or adopted by the Body Corporate. For buyers, these by-laws can be found in the purchase contract or if the model rules are adopted, they can be found in the legislation.
I have found a useful reference published by the Young Lawyers (a Division of the Law Society) titled "Keeping pets in strata schemes....Your questions answered" You can click the link below to see the guide.
http://www.lawsociety.com.au/uploads/filelibrary/1093240954343_0.1210455815147537.pdf
If you are looking to buy a strata property and you wish to keep a pet, I would definitely raise this issue with your Solicitor at the time of considering the contract to purchase.
This opinion provided by Dean Carver - Solicitor at the Solicitors Property Centre, Sydney
www.spc.net.au
