The Renters’ Rights Bill is an ambitious piece of legislation looking to overhaul the rental housing sector. While many are focused on the end of no-fault evictions, pet owners also have their eye on another section of the bill – which aims to put an end to blanket pet bans in rentals.
Under the new legislation, tenants would have the right to request a pet – a request which landlords may not “unreasonably refuse”. They may, however, request insurance to cover potential damage from pets.
With many landlords in the UK currently enforcing blanket bans on pets, pet owners are often in a delicate position in what’s already a difficult housing market. In some cases, the lack of affordable pet-friendly rentals withing budget force people to make the most difficult choices: rehome their pets, or become homeless with them.
“The lack of pet friendly accommodation is also often a barrier for many people looking to adopt one of the hundreds of dogs currently in our care”
Research conducted by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection revealed that landlords are “currently split on whether they allow pets”, with 46% saying they do. However, there is a notable difference in the number of tenants saying their tenancy allows pets: just 30% of those surveyed said that their landlord would allow a dog in the property.
The same research revealed that, in over a third of cases where cats or dogs have not been allowed by a private landlord, “the landlord did not proactively decide this based on the individual tenants or pets, but either followed generic advice or a used a standard template”.
On the other hand, the research found that “26% of tenants would stay longer in a property if they were allowed to keep a pet”.
Claire Calder, Head of Public Affairs at Dogs Trust, welcomed the new legislation. She said,
“We welcome the news that the Government will strengthen the rights of renters who would like to own a pet through the Renters Rights Bill. Not only is this good news for renters, but it’s also a positive step for those of us working in the animal welfare sector.
“The last three years have been the busiest on record for Dogs Trust, and sadly, one of the most common reasons we see dogs handed in to our rehoming centres is due to a change in the owner’s living circumstances and a lack of available pet-friendly accommodation, forcing them to make the heartbreaking decision to rehome their pets. Unfortunately, the lack of pet friendly accommodation is also often a barrier for many people looking to adopt one of the hundreds of dogs currently in our care.
“It is important to note that, while these proposals will be beneficial for those with existing tenancies who are seeking to get a pet, it will not increase the overall availability of pet-friendly housing. We would urge the Government to work with the private and social rental sectors to increase confidence in renting to pet owners so that they are not disadvantaged when seeking to access suitable accommodation.”
