Government Asks Landlords To Stop Banning Tenants From Owning Pets

A new UK Government order has suggested that landlords should no longer be allowed to stop tenants from keeping pets unless their animals are poorly behaved.

As it stands, only seven percent of landlords currently allow tenants in their properties to keep animals. That means that a lot of people are having to bid farewell to their furry friends in order to secure somewhere to live themselves.

However, the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has ordered that the Government's model tenancy agreement be rewritten and all restrictions on well-behaved pets removed.

This is now the recommended blueprint for landlords to use when they are drafting their own contracts to agree with tenants.

Mr Jenrick said: "Pets bring a huge amount of joy and comfort to people's lives, helping their owners through difficult times and improving their mental and physical wellbeing.

"It's a shame thousands of animal-loving tenants and their children can't experience this because they rent their homes instead of owning.

"So, I'm overhauling our model tenancy contract."

This latest move is part of a few new measures that the recently elected Tory government plans to roll out to help renters.

Part of their election promises, the measures are not legally binding - therefore landlords are under no obligation to follow them - but if landlords still refuse to go easier on pets, Mr Jenrick hasn't ruled out the possibility of enshrining it in law in future.

He continued: "We will be listening to tenants and landlords to see what more we can do to tackle this issue in a way that is fair to both."

The full press statement from the Housing Secretary reads: "More young people and families than ever before are renting and should be able to enjoy the happiness that a pet can bring to their lives.

"However, currently only around 7 percent of landlords advertise homes as suitable for pets, meaning many people struggle to find a home suitable for themselves and their pets.

"Some renters have been forced to give up their pets all together simply because they have been unable to move into a rented property with one.

"But the government's model tenancy contracts for renters, which can be used as the basis of lease agreements made with tenants, will now be revised to remove restrictions on well-behaved pets - to ensure more landlords are catering for responsible pet owners wherever possible."

"The government is clear there should be a balance with responsible pet owners not being penalised and landlords being more flexible in their approach, and it is right that landlords' properties should be protected from damage by badly behaved pets.

"But total bans on renters with pets should only be implemented where there is good reason, such as in smaller properties or flats where owning a pet could be impractical."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: uk news, Animals, politics

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekends he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

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