Landlords should no longer stop renters from having pets if they are well behaved, according to the government.
Currently it is almost impossible to find a rented house which will allow you to keep a dog or cat – just 7% of landlords advertise their homes as suitable for pets.
Renters often find themselves forced to give up their beloved pets to find accommodation.
But today (January 4), Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has called on landlords to make it easier for responsible tenants to have well behaved pets in their homes.
MP Robert Jenrick announced an overhaul to the model tenant contracts earlier today, with pets at the heart.
His calls came as figures show more young people and families than ever before are renting.
He said they should be able to enjoy the happiness that a pet can bring into their lives.
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.
This is to ensure more landlords are catering for responsible pet owners wherever possible.
The government emphasised there should be a balance between rights for renters to keep their pets and landlords’ properties should be protected from damage.
But they said 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.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Pets bring a huge amount of joy and comfort to people’s lives, helping their owner’s through difficult times and improving their mental and physical wellbeing.
“So, it’s a shame that thousands of animal-loving tenants and their children can’t experience this because they rent their homes instead of owning property.
“So, I’m overhauling our model tenancy contract to encourage more landlords to consider opening their doors to responsible pet owners.
“And 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.
“This is part of this new government’s mission to improve life for tenants, recognising that more are renting and for longer in life.
“We’ve already taken action, banning unfair letting fees and capping tenancy deposits, saving tenants across England at least £240 million a year, and I will continue to take more steps to secure a better deal for renters up and down the country.”
More news for renters
The government will be bringing forward a bill to update the relationship between tenants and landlords as well as to introduce a Lifetime Deposit scheme, to make moving between properties easier and cheaper.
The government is also working to establish First Home, a new programme for first time buyers, enabling them to purchase a new build property in their local area at a 30% discount.
The national model tenancy agreement is the government’s recommended contract for landlords to use when signing on new tenants for their properties in England.
It sets out the minimum requirements and can be altered by landlords to cater for specific circumstances, tenants or properties.
A revised model tenancy agreement will be published by the government this year.
By Vicky Castle
Source: Kent Live