COMMENT on Renters’ Bill: Battersea Welcomes Removal of Barriers to Pet Ownership for Millions of Tenants

INTRODUCTION OF RENTERS’ REFORM BILL TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO PET OWNERSHIP FOR MILLIONS OF TENANTS

2023 

Battersea, the main animal welfare charity behind the Pet Pleasant Properties marketing campaign, is immediately welcoming the introduction of the Renters’ Reform Invoice to Parliament, which locations long-awaited protections for tenants and their pets firmly on the Authorities’s legislative agenda.

The Invoice, which was laid earlier than Parliament earlier immediately, options various insurance policies designed to extend entry to pet pleasant rental lodging. As initially outlined in “A Fairer Personal Rented Sector”, the Authorities’s White Paper on rental reform revealed in June final 12 months, plans embody banning landlords from implementing blanket ‘no pets’ bans on properties, giving tenants the authorized proper to request a pet and introducing an insurance coverage requirement to mitigate in opposition to any threat of pet-related harm.

Latest Battersea analysis revealed a marked imbalance between the UK’s aspirations of pet possession and the provision of appropriate housing. It discovered that while 76 per cent of renters both at present personal or want to personal an animal companion, in response to Zoopla simply 7 per cent of personal landlords checklist their properties as permitting pets.

Michael Webb, Head of Coverage and Public Affairs at Battersea stated: “Tenants being unable to search out wherever appropriate to hire with their pet is unfortunately probably the most widespread causes folks convey their animals to Battersea for rehoming. And because the rental market turns into extra aggressive, we are able to solely count on it’s going to get much more widespread.”

“Not solely will the long-overdue introduction of this Invoice to Parliament convey us one step nearer to opening up the numerous joys of pet possession to thousands and thousands of renters, it may dramatically cut back the variety of canine and cats we see being needlessly separated from their homeowners as a result of widespread restrictive pet insurance policies. Additional nonetheless, it would assist hold tenants of their pet-friendly houses for longer – undoubtedly the most effective consequence for renters, pets and landlords.”

With the Renters’ Reform Invoice in place, canine like Layla* – whose earlier proprietor’s landlord determined to ban tenants from protecting pets of their properties and threatened her proprietor with eviction – couldn’t have been given as much as Battersea. The charity may additionally not have had to absorb two aged Chihuahuas, Harvey* and Rosco*, after their former proprietor’s landlord determined to promote up they usually had been left unable to search out different pet pleasant lodging.

Battersea has led requires extra pet pleasant rental properties within the UK since 2018, working intently with tenants, landlords, housing suppliers and different animal welfare teams to assist devise workable options for all events.

Michael continues: “As this Invoice now begins its lengthy journey via Parliament, we look ahead to persevering with to work with the Housing division, and each landlords and tenants to assist guarantee a fairer rental sector for pets and folks alike.”


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