England: Tenants to find it easier to keep pets
A new law in England is set to make it easier for tenants to keep pets in rental properties. Landlords will no longer be allowed to issue blanket refusals.
The British government could soon make it easier for people with pets to rent homes.
On 16 June 2022, a white paper containing proposals for new rental market legislation was published. Among other things, it states that the Renters Reform Bill would prevent landlords from including blanket «no-pets clauses» in contracts.
This means that landlords must provide a reasonable explanation if they do not want their tenants to keep pets. Tenants also have the right to take action against a landlord who prevents them from keeping a pet.
The Renters Reform Bill is expected to be put before Parliament before the end of next spring.
A great day for animal welfare and tenants
The British love their pets. In April, data from Statista showed that the number of pet owners in the United Kingdom is at an all-time high. More than 60% of households live with a pet.
The company noted that this is likely due to the pandemic and the growing number of people working from home.
Further data published by the Deposit Protection Service (DPS) identifies accommodating a pet as a common reason for changing rental properties between October 2021 and March 2022.
«It is interesting to see that the reported popularity of pets during the lockdown period appears to have had a lasting influence on tenants' priorities«, said Matt Trevett, Managing Director of the DPS, earlier this year.
The high demand for rental properties means that tenants who secure accommodation that allows pets tend to stay longer. This leads to greater security for both tenants and landlords.
One of the main reasons landlords refuse to allow pets is the potential for damage. However, AdvoCATS, an organization that works with animal rescue organizations, landlords, and tenants, notes that damage is not common. It finds that three quarters of cat-friendly private landlords experience no problems with animals in their properties.
The organization has helped drive the new bill forward. Its co-founder Jen Berezai called yesterday a «great day for animal welfare and tenants«.
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