Earlier today, the Renters’ Rights Bill, which includes provisions to ensure renters are not unfairly prevented from owning pets, was debated in Parliament during the Bill’s Second Reading.
Animal welfare charity Battersea has long advocated for a fairer rental sector through its Pet Friendly Properties campaign.
At Battersea’s three centres, being unable to find somewhere pet friendly to live is one of the most common reasons responsible owners are faced with no other choice but to give up their much-loved pets, with recent cases including a pregnant Labrador named Daisy and a friendly rescue cat called Davey.
Michael Webb, Battersea’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said: “At Battersea we sadly see the impact the current lack of pet friendly rental homes has on both pets and people, with housing issues being one of the most common reasons for dogs and cats being given up to rescue centres by their heartbroken owners. No one should be forced to choose between keeping their pet or having somewhere to call home, and we’re glad that the Renters’ Rights Bill includes measures to prevent this from happening in the future.
“While the Bill is a great step in the right direction to create a fairer rental sector for animals, tenants and landlords, we believe there are areas where the pet provisions could be further strengthened, and we look forward to working with MPs on all sides of the House to see this come to pass as the Bill continues to progress through Parliament over the coming weeks.”
To find out more about Battersea’s Pet Friendly Properties campaign, visit https://www.battersea.org.uk/what-we-do/animal-welfare-campaigning/pet-friendly-properties.
