The Responsible Pet Owner
With the onset of the Renters Rights Bill becoming law at some point this year, one of the prominent area relates to Pets, reported by the press as a total ban on landlords being able to refuse a tenant with pets.
In fact, the Bill places a great deal of ‘responsibility’ on the pet owner.
I am the proud owner of two kittens Zeus Maximus and Apollo Aurelius. Taking on these little ones demonstrates exactly what a ‘responsible pet’ owner needs to deal with.
A Pet Profile provides an overview of the type of pet that will be living at the property and will give the landlord an idea of whether or not consent will be granted.
1. Has the pet owner registered with a vet?
2. Does the pet owner have insurance cover for any unforeseen medical circumstances?
3. Have the pets in question - generally cats and dogs, kittens and pups been. Micro-chipped?
Will the Renters’ Rights Bill truly help Pet Owner-Tenants?
The Renters’ Rights Bill has some promising ideas to help tenants with pets, but how much it will actually change things depends on how it works alongside existing laws and whether landlords fully embrace the new rules.
What will the Renters’ Rights Bill do for Pet Owners?
The Right to Ask for a Pet
Under the new rules, tenants can formally REQUEST permission to keep a pet, and landlords can’t just say no without a good reason. This stops landlords from banning pets outright in tenancy agreements.Reasonable Refusals Only
If a landlord wants to say no, they’ll need to have a valid reason, like the property not being suitable for pets or other specific concerns. They can’t just refuse because they feel like it.Tenant Responsibilities
Tenants might have to get pet insurance to cover any damage their furry friends might cause. This is designed to reassure landlords while giving tenants more freedom.
Pets in Properties
What does the Renters Reform Bill say about Pets?
The Bill will set in place the opportunity for tenants to request to have a pet within the property.
Landlords must give the request reasonable consideration; this will be on a case-by-case basis. If a landlord refuses, tenants can escalate the matter if they believe that their landlord has been unfair, and tenants will have access to the Landlord Ombudsman as well as the First Tier Tribunal (FTT).
The view of all the animal centric organisations is that this Bill will be revolutionary for tenants who own pets because large numbers of animals are given up to the RSPCA, Dog’s Trust, and Cat Protection every year due to landlords not allowing pets in their properties. For example, the Cat Protection League received 1,300 cats last year, from people who couldn’t keep them due to issues with private rented and social housing.
A Look into the Future of the Private Rented Sector - The Publication of theWhite Paper & Renters Reform
After a lot of back and forth, the Government finally published the fairer private rented sector white paper on the 16th of June 2022 which outlines what will ensure millions of families benefit from living in decent, well looked-after homes as part of the biggest shake up of the private rented sector in 30 years.
A new blueprint for renters reform will end the injustice of properties which are unfit for Human Habitation and help protect renters from rising cost of living. The changes are pivotal and significant, and include:-
The removal of the section 21 notice (Form 6A. So-called ‘no fault’ section 21 evictions (which for clarity, NOT EVICTIONS) that allow landlords to terminate tenancies without giving any reason – will no longer be possible.
Extending the Decent Homes Standard within the Private Rented Sector
The end to arbitrary rent review clauses, which will give tenants stronger powers to challenge poor practice, unjustified rent increases and enable tenants to be repaid rent for non-decent homes (RROs)
A blanket ban on refusing to rent to families with children or tenants in receipt of benefits
Making it easier for tenants to share their homes with much-loved pets
The white paper marks a generational shift that will redress the balance between landlords and 4.4 million private rented tenants.