Pet charities welcome Renters’ Reform Bill
The Renters' Reform Bill has been designed to give more access to pet-friendly accommodation.
The Renters’ Reform Bill was announced by Michael Gove on 17 May. It has been designed to give more access to pet-friendly rental accommodation, and features a number of policies that will give more legal protections for tenants and their pets.
The Bill details plans to prevent landlords from unreasonably withholding consent when a tenant requests to keep a pet in their home. It will also allow tenants to challenge unfair decisions through a new private rented sector ombudsman.
Animal charities Dogs Trust and Battersea have both campaigned on the issue. They welcome the introduction of the Renters’ Reform Bill to Parliament.
Both charities report that one of the most common reasons for owners making the decision to rehome a pet, was the difficulty in finding pet-friendly rental accommodation.
Michael Webb, head of policy and public affairs at Battersea said: “Tenants being unable to find anywhere suitable to rent with their pet is sadly one of the most common reasons people bring their animals to Battersea for rehoming. And as the rental market becomes more competitive, we can only expect it is going to get even more common.
“Not only will the long-overdue introduction of this Bill to Parliament bring us one step closer to opening up the many joys of pet ownership to millions of renters, it could dramatically reduce the number of dogs and cats we see being needlessly separated from their owners due to widespread restrictive pet policies. Further still, it will help keep tenants in their pet-friendly homes for longer – undoubtedly the best outcome for renters, pets and landlords.”
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
