Allowing pets in properties has long been a contentious subject in the UK, but a new bill aims to strengthen the rights of tenants to ask for a pet in the property.
The Renters’ Rights Bill, announced in September, aims to improve the current system for both the 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords in England. Last week, the bill progressed through Parliament where it was debated.
For tenants with pets, the bill would give a boost to their right to request a pet in the property, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. Landlords will also not be able to issue a blanket ban on pets.
To support this, landlords will be able to require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property.
Unfair decisions can be challenged so renters will not have to make a difficult choice between a beloved pet or a home.
UK-based charity Dogs Trust welcomed the bill. The charity said approximately 15% of people contacting Dogs Trust to rehome their dog cite issues with accommodation, such as being unable to find suitable rental accommodation, forcing them to make the difficult decision to rehome their dog.
Research from Dogs Trust and Cats Protection showed that landlords are currently split on whether they allow pets, with 46% saying they allow pets. However, the number of tenants saying their tenancy allows pets is much lower than this, with just 30% saying their landlord would allow a dog in the property.
The research also found 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.
According to the charity, allowing pets in rental properties comes with advantages for the landlords too, as it could increase the length of time tenants choose to rent a property. Research by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection found that 26% of tenants would stay longer in a property if they were allowed to keep a pet.
Commentary
Claire Calder, Head of Public Affairs at Dogs Trust says, “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,” Calder said.
Calder also noted that while the proposals will be helpful for those with existing tenancies who are looking for a pet, it will not increase the overall availability of pet-friendly housing.
This means those who are actively looking for pet-friendly accommodation will not likely see the number of available pet-friendly accommodation increase.
“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,” Calder said.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said in a statement, “The RSPCA strongly believes that allowing pets in private and social rental properties can yield wide-ranging benefits, help promote responsible animal ownership and facilitate happy, healthy, long-term tenants.”
The charity said that “it sees the results of the issues faced by tenants every day. We see it in animals that are given up to our centres by heartbroken families who have no choice but to do so if they want to find somewhere to live.”
“The RSPCA welcomes the Renters Rights Bill which will allow thousands of people who do not own their own home have a chance to own pets and to put an end to blanket bans by landlords. We hope the Bill will make it easier for people to keep their much loved pets if they move into rented accomodation reducing the strain on rehoming centres in England,” the RSPCA stated.
The Bill
In addition to strengthening the right to request a pet, the Bill would ban Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions across new and existing tenancies at the same time, immediately tackling one of the leading causes of homelessness, the government stated.
It will also clamp down on unfair rent increases and extend the Decent Homes Standard, to give renters safer, better-value homes and remove the blight of poor-quality homes in local communities.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said, “We will deliver on our promise to renters and transform the sector into one where families can put down roots, where children can grow up in healthy homes, and where young people can save for their future.”
The Bill is currently in the Committee stage in the House of Commons.
