A bill debated in parliament last month will give tenants the right to request a pet.
The Renters’ Rights Bill had its second reading on October 9th and if passed, it will ban landlords from refusing pets without good reason.
This comes as part of the Government’s aim to rebalance the rights of landlords and tenants.
After selling her house, pet owner Ciara Birch was desperate to find a rental for herself, Husky-Mastiff cross Buzz, and cat Bowie.
She said: “I think the overall issue is the rental market.
“There are too many people applying for the same house and there’s not enough housing.
“I can see why some people have no option but to give up their pets.”
Ciara was met with multiple blanket refusals, ‘no pets’ clauses, and discrimination from landlords based on the breed and size of her dog.
To eventually secure a house, Ciara had to move over an hour away from where she’d always lived.
Owner of Pets Lets Relocation Russell Hunt said: “Pets are a massive part of the family, they bring you all together.
“Not being able to live with your pet is like not being able to live with your child.”
Battersea Team Leader Claire Davies said that at Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, owners being unable to find a rental is the second biggest reason pets come in.
Battersea’s Pet Friendly Properties Campaign is pushing for improvements to the current draft law.
They want to see clearer guidance on refusal grounds, confirmation that approvals won’t be withdrawn during the tenancy, and less discrimination against pet-owners bidding for rentals.
Hunt said that even with the Renters’ Rights Bill in place, landlords will still find loopholes.
He also said the bill won’t apply to blocks of flats, as decisions of landlords are overridden by the owner of the block.
If landlords do accept requests, they will be able to require tenants to purchase pet insurance to cover any damage caused by pets.
In addition to allowing tenants to request pets, the Renters’ Rights Bill will also ban no-fault evictions.
These allow landlords to evict tenants with two months’ notice, and no reason needs to be provided.
The bill is long-awaited, as the Renters (Reform) Bill was dropped by the Conservative government in the run-up to the general election earlier this year.
