Two of the UK’s leading animal welfare organisations are calling on the Government to introduce better protection for responsible renters with pets following an increase in the number of pets being handed over to rehoming charities.
Dogs Trust is receiving a record number of enquiries from people being forced to rehome their dogs as they struggle to meet their needs as the cost of living continues to rise. Around one in ten of those owners calling Dogs Trust charity cite issues with housing as the reason for needing to rehome their dog. This includes people being forced to move or downsize as rental prices increase, but are unable to find suitable, affordable pet-friendly properties.
Meanwhile, Cats Protection says that last year it took in around 1,300 cats – the equivalent of at least three cats each day – due to landlords not allowing them in their properties, making it the eighth most-cited reason as to why cats are given up to the charity.
Currently, there are no legal rights for renters with pets, and landlords can refuse to rent to tenants with pets. The Government updated its Model Tenancy Agreement in 2021 to remove blanket bans on pets from the standard contract. Under this agreement, any restrictions on pet ownership must be ‘reasonable’, however, there is no legal requirement for landlords to use it.
The Government has outlined plans to introduce better protection for tenants as part of its Renters Reform Bill, due to be put forward to Parliament in the next few months. Draft policies detailed in a White Paper published last year included giving tenants the right to request a pet in the property which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse.
According to research conducted in 2021 by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection, landlords are 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 and 32% saying cats are permitted.
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 advice or used a standard template.
Pets have a positive impact on the quality of life and mental health of their owners. 98% of tenants say their dog has some form of positive impact on their life, and 94% say the same about their cats.
In fact, allowing pets in rental properties could be advantageous to landlords. Allowing pets could increase the amount 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.
Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director of Dogs Trust, says: “2022 was the busiest year in our history for relinquishment enquiries. 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.
“For most dog owners, being separated from their dog is no different from being separated from a family member, so the introduction of new protection for renters will help ensure that fewer owners are forced to make the heart-breaking decision to give up their beloved pets.
“We are pleased to see that the Government has plans to include pet-friendly policies in its Renters Reform Bill, and hope to see these rights enshrined into law soon so that the benefits of pet ownership are no longer exclusive to homeowners, but open to renters as well.”
Madison Rogers, Head of Advocacy and Government Relations for Cats Protection says: “Pet ownership should not be a privilege in modern society and Cats Protection is urging the Government to move forward with planned legislation to end blanket ‘no pets’ policies and give renters with pets better protections.
“In the meantime, there are a few things renters looking for a pet-friendly property can do: start looking for pet-friendly housing early, proactively ask letting agents or landlords if they allow pets even if it says ‘no pets’ on the advert and create a Pet CV outlining the measures you will take to be a responsible pet owner, such as providing veterinary records and details of your pet’s behaviours.”
To increase the availability of pet friendly properties, Dogs Trust has been providing advice and resources to pet owners, landlords and letting agencies for more than a decade through its Lets with Pets scheme. Cats Protection also operates its Purr-fect Landlords programme, which provides advice to tenants, landlords and social housing providers on how to conduct discussions aimed at keeping cats in rented properties, with further information available at www.cats.org.uk/purrfectlandlords
