The charity Dogs Trust says it wants to work with government to implement the new policy that responsible pet owners who rent will be given more rights under Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill.

Dogs Trust  Lana that around 15% of people contacting it to help rehome their dog cite issues with accommodation, such as being unable to find suitable rental accommodation.

Research conducted by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection suggests that landlords are currently 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.

The same research reveals 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 generic advice or used a standard tenancy template.

The charity claims that allowing pets in rental properties is not just good for the tenants; there are advantages to landlords too as it could increase the length of time tenants choose to rent a property. It says some 26% of tenants would stay longer in a property if they were allowed to keep a pet.

A spokesperson for Dogs Trust says: “Not only is this good news for renters, but it’s also a positive step for those of us working in the animal welfare sector. 

“The last three years have been the busiest on record for Dogs Trust, and 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, forcing them to make the heartbreaking decision to rehome their pets. 

“Unfortunately, the lack of pet friendly accommodation is also often a barrier for many people looking to adopt one of the hundreds of dogs currently in our care.

“It is important to note that, while these proposals will be beneficial for those with existing tenancies who are seeking to get a pet, it will not increase the overall availability of pet-friendly housing. 

“We would urge the Government to work with the private and social rental sectors to increase confidence in renting to pet owners so that they are not disadvantaged when seeking to access suitable accommodation.

“We look forward to working with the Government and Parliament throughout the passage of this legislation, and we will continue to support landlords through our Pet Friendly Housing project.”