A landlord may seek to deduct the reasonable cost of repairing pet-related damage that goes beyond normal wear and tear, even where keeping the pet was permitted. They should not automatically keep the whole deposit or charge for ordinary cleaning and deterioration, and should explain the deductions with evidence such as photographs, quotes or invoices. Keep your tenancy agreement, pet permission and records of the property’s condition at the start and end of the tenancy. If you cannot agree, the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) can consider the evidence and decide the dispute based on the individual facts.