Battersea, the charity behind the Pet Friendly Properties campaign, says the Renters Reform Bill must become law as soon as possible.
Battersea claims there is a stark imbalance between millions of animal-loving renters and the availability of suitable housing. The data showed 76 per cent of renters either currently own or would like to own an animal companion yet according to property website Zoopla, a mere eight per cent of landlords currently list their properties as ‘pets allowed’.
Michael Webb, Battersea’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, says: “At Battersea and other rescues across the country, far too often we see heartbroken owners bringing in their pets when they are unable to find a home where they can live together as a family.
“No one should be forced to choose between giving up their companion or facing the prospect of having nowhere to live, and we sincerely hope that the Renters Reform Bill will help see fewer pets being parted from their loving owners, and more tenants benefiting from the joys of pet ownership in the future.”
Ahead of the Bill’s Second Reading on Monday, Battersea urged its supporters to email their MP, asking them to speak up in support of the Bill in Parliament.
Thousands of people have also shown their support for the Pet Friendly Properties campaign by signing a pledge.
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Most rental properties are completely unsuitable for pets. They are predominantly flats that fortunately have clauses in the lease prohibiting pets or are small terraced houses with neighbours living in close proximity and very restricted outside space. It is totally unfair to a dog and the neighbours to coop it up in a house all day while the owners are at work.
I have occasionally allowed pets in properties and it's nearly always been a mistake. Fish left to die over the Christmas holidays, an emotional support rabbit with an owner too depressed to look after it and housemates who loathed it, dogs that make the whole place stink of dog. Right now a couple of guinea pigs that are actually OK but it's the first time pets haven't been a problem.
Don't these activists understand most tenants work and simply don't have time to look after an animal properly?
Until two were sold, I had four properties. Two flats had a No Pets clause in the Head Lease, a third allowed with consent of the freeholder, I was a director of the freehold company and the last was a semi-detached. In the one flat I agreed an indoor cat could be accommodated. When they left, I gave warning that I was going to sell and they left before the notice was issued and the flat was spotless. The semi I issued a Section 21 because I wanted to sell. The tenant had a small dog and young child. She left the house so clean and tidy that it sold quickly. Perhaps I was just lucky?
Yes EXTREMELY!
I am really surprised that an animal charity supports pets in rentals - many of these would end up at their door eventually!
I love animals, but don't really think that most of them should be in rented accommodation unless the tenants are going to stay permanently - which, of course, is the intention of the Renters Reform legislation.
Cats, in particular, present a problem. However clean the cat is, it can pick up fleas. The eggs are like glue and will hatch when new tenants move in so that the new tenants' legs are covered in fleas.
If the tenant cannot be bothered to flea treat the cat, they certainly won’t be bothered about looking after the property.
I believe it is not that difficult to eradicate fleas from a cat. However, the problem is that once the host for the fleas- the cat - has left the premises, the fleas' eggs glued to any little crevice in the floor will hatch.
Washing all the carpets etc is not sufficient usually to eradicate those eggs. There can be a huge number of them because one flea lays about fifty eggs a day. You can have exponential growth of fleas and human legs are where they are going to get their blood.
Another issue is that cats tend to sit on the place where foxes sit - thinking it is the best spot and they will quickly pick up more fleas doing that. Foxes are also becoming quite tame. I have a little fox who sits in my cat's bed on my veranda - he is so sweet and gentle. I have to keep changing the cover on my cat's bed to prevent my cat getting fleas.
It appears everyone is having a go at us 🆘🆘😎
If Michael Webb wants to come and see the state of a 2 bedroom property vacated this week where the landlord allowed a "small" dog, he is most welcome. After just 2 years, new carpets required and a cleaning and gardening bill of £400+
If Michael Webb wants to come and see the state of a 2 bedroom property vacated this week where the landlord allowed a "small" dog, he is most welcome. After just 2 years, new carpets required and a cleaning and gardening bill of £400+
This is the clause I am most worried about. Two of our current tenants have got pets, 2 cats and a dog in one case and a dog and multiple reptiles in the other. Both without consent against their tenancy conditions and both with damage and refurbishment costs outstripping their deposit by a long way. Already our legal cover will not support us to pursue a section 8 on the worst offender as it is not a mandatory ground.
And as for special pet insurance, I have yet to see any insurance company offer this option. Comparing with the additional cost of accidental damage insurance it will be expensive. And unless the cost can be included with the rent with consequences for non-payment, probably not even worth putting the extra words in the act.
Depressing!
You are right, pet insurance on offer currently might cover 'damage' but not 'wear & tear' One that does will be VERY expensive, as your example shows.
The RRB denies/compromises an owners right to refuse pets. This lunacy forces me to assess ‘risk’ which is very considerable. I will simply add £400 a month to the rent to cover the risk and deter applications.
I love pets and do accept them occasionally, but I will not be ‘told’ to take pets by anyone.
I agree. It is for the property owner to assess whether THEIR property is suitable for pets. For example an unfurnished second floor flat might be suitable for a budgie, but not a Rottweiler.
I will consider pets in a suitable property with an additional rent, my descision and mine alone
Agree, but I bet Labour won’t 😳😨
When interviewed for the media, there should be the standard Q, "Do you understand the topic on which you are about to speak?" I admit, there will still be many deluded people out there, but some quick questions from the interviewer should flush them out.
Michael clearly knows nothing about the RRF bill otherwise he would realise not one additional single pet will be housed when enacted. It simply gives the right in law for a tenant to request a pet, that they dont have now. Landlord discretion will still trump all. Its actually a pretty pointless part of the BIll, I imagine only included so government are being seen to be trying to solve the unsolveable. (which could actually be solved if they repealed parts of the TFA)
They're in no position to insist on anything.
My last eviction had a pet without asking, even though the agreement said categorically no pets.
On leaving they were supposed to have the property professionally cleaned.
They left without bothering to clean.
The Carpets, woodworking and walls had been ruined by the pet
I don't have a problem with pets that are appropriate to the property size but they need to be agreed upfront, not slipped in during the tenancy.
But if they can't even be bothered to clean up after, well this is exactly why most Landlords prefer to just rule out pets altogether
There is an aggressive entitlement attitude growing amongst tenants, particularly younger tenants, that is being fueled by these left wing charities notably Shelter and Gen Rent and the media continually demonising landlords.
Thankfully I'm out of the rental market now because of this RRB but if I was still in the business I would definitely start rejecting tenants under 50
These new generations have absolutely no sense of respect or gratitude.
Totally agree ref the younger tenants who think they hold all the cards …. 😂 they do not !!
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