Pet allergies and the Renters’ Rights Bill?
2 years ago | 12 comments
Pet charity urges public to support the Renters’ Rights Bill
9:34 AM, 7th October 2024, 2 years ago
20
A pet charity is calling on the public to support the Renters’ Rights Bill which will bring in the right for tenants to keep pets – which landlords cannot ‘unreasonably’ refuse.
The Battersea Dogs and Cats Home believes the bill is a crucial step in ensuring that pets remain with their families, especially as the number of households renting in the UK continues to grow.
Battersea says it has seen firsthand the devastating impact of restrictive rental rules on pet owners who struggle to find a landlord who allows pets.
Pets remain with the families
The charity’s public affairs manager, Ben Parker, said: “At Battersea, we are committed to ensuring that pets remain with the families who love them.
“The measures in the Renters’ Rights Bill offers an opportunity for long-lasting change that will benefit thousands of pets and their owners.”
He adds: “We will continue to work with the government and other stakeholders to secure a future where no one is forced to surrender their pet because of where they live.”
‘Countless’ families forced to give up their pets
Battersea says that ‘countless’ families have been forced to give up their pets due to the lack of suitable accommodation, with housing issues being one of the most common causes for dogs and cats being brought to the charity’s three centres.
It points to a recent case to highlight ‘how urgent the need for reform is’.
Daisy, a three-year-old heavily pregnant Labrador, was brought to Battersea when her previous owners were forced to move and unable to find any rented accommodation that allowed pets. Despite their best efforts, they had no choice but to place Daisy in Battersea’s care.
Puppies were successfully rehomed
After giving birth to a litter of eight puppies, Daisy spent five months at Battersea’s Old Windsor centre, where she received expert care, and her puppies were successfully rehomed.
Daisy eventually found a loving new home where she will hopefully be able to remain for the rest of her life.
Battersea says her story serves as a ‘powerful reminder of why rental reform is so necessary’.
It adds that with better legislation, her previous owners, ‘like so many others, would never be faced with the heart-breaking decision to be parted from their pet because of housing restrictions’.
Renters’ Rights Bill
Mr Parker added: “The Renters’ Rights Bill has the power to stop situations like Daisy’s from happening in the future.
“Pet owners shouldn’t be forced to choose between a home and their pet, and we’re urging the public to email their MPs and show support for this legislation.
“Pets are part of the family, and the changes in this Bill offers hope to thousands of tenants across the UK.”
Tags:
animal welfare, Battersea, Daisy the Labrador, housing restrictions, pet friendly housing, pet surrender, renters rights bill, UK rental market
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Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2197 - Articles: 2
3:17 PM, 7th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 07/10/2024 – 15:04
Now that’s a good idea for a new business, Crystal balls for landlords. ?
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3527 - Articles: 5
3:18 PM, 7th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 07/10/2024 – 15:04
Crystal ball not needed.
Its an outright NO until such time as either I determine IF the property IS suitable AND the tenant can provide a full guarantor to cover them for ALL potential damages associated with that one defined pet being ALLOWED into the property.
Unless all the above can be fulfilled prior to the tenancy starting or before the pet is taken into the property, then permission will not be given under any circumstances.
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 620
3:27 PM, 7th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 07/10/2024 – 15:18
There speaks the voice of wisdom!
Member Since May 2016 - Comments: 1573 - Articles: 16
3:47 PM, 7th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 07/10/2024 – 15:04
Indeed Stella,
From reading about this topic some time ago, I recall the Gove’ment, at the time, suggesting that Insurance companies were approached about providing such cover, although at what cost, god only knows.
Comments: 85
4:36 PM, 7th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Member Since October 2024 - Comments: 5
6:46 PM, 7th October 2024, About 2 years ago
I totally agree with Battersea on the Renters’ Rights Bill. It’s really sad to see families having to give up their pets just because of strict rental rules. Pets are family, and giving tenants the right to keep them would mean a lot for both the pets and their owners.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3527 - Articles: 5
7:26 PM, 7th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Charles Dee at 07/10/2024 – 18:46
No one is saying anyone HAS to give up their pets. That is the tenants choice, just as it was to get a pet in the first place. A pet is not a right, you don’t have to have one it’s a choice made by the person who wants to look after one.
If the person does not own their own home then they have to respect that there are rules. Pet owners (dog owners for example) check with family and friends if they want to take their pet to another persons house, they check if the cafe/pub/hotel/airBnB etc is dog friendly but seem to ignore the fact where the dog is actually housed – in the LL’s property. Why is this discounted?
1. If they are already in a rental that accepts pets and if they want to move all they need to do is find a property where the LL will accept pets. Yes it may be harder to do this but that’s just the way it is.
2. If they have asked for a pet AFTER the tenancy started, but the LL has refused then they need to find another rental with an accommodating LL if they want to prioritise on having a pet.
It really not much more complicated than that.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3527 - Articles: 5
7:31 PM, 7th October 2024, About 2 years ago
no one ever thinks about contractors/agents and all those people that may need access to carry out work to the property/do checks etc.
I have had one contractor who didn’t want to go into a rental once where there was a house cat because of the fur (allergies).
With many dog attacks on family members, I’d be very wary of going into any property with a dog these days….I am sure there are a number of contractors who feel the same.
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 620
7:45 PM, 7th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Charles Dee at 07/10/2024 – 18:46Charles can you guarantee that the pet does not destroy the property just like one of my professional tenant’s dog did.
This was despite the owners assurance that their dog was well behaved, house trained and walked regularly and with all this assurance they still allowed the animal to saturate the floorboards leave mountains of poop in the back garden, filled every flower pot with bags of poop and leave me with a 60 litre bin full to the brim with dog mess.
I wonder if they owned the property and were responsible for paying the mortgage and the repairing costs would they have allowed their dog to destroy it in this way?
In my experience not all tenants have the maturity or lifestyle conducive to owning a pet but nobody considers this.
IMHO if this law is passed then Battersea will eventually have more cats and dogs to find homes for.
Member Since February 2018 - Comments: 627
9:40 AM, 8th October 2024, About 2 years ago
‘Battersea says it hasn’t seen first hand the devastating impact of regulated rental rules on landlords as a result of inconsiderate pet owners”
Of course they haven’t, they might see something.
Just this morning our building’s managing agent as emailed advising of an incident of the disposal of LOOSE cat litter down one of the bin chutes. The keeping of pets is strictly prohibited under the lease as it us in many or most tenancy agreements, but we also have two major issues arising,
1) the very real health and safety issues arising to both staff and residents and
2) the socialised cost of cleaning up someonelse’s mess
Would Mr Parker care to comment?