12th
May 2021
A London-based property build to rent developer and operator is pushing its agenda for tenants being allowed to live with their pets and has criticised agents that turn away pet owning renters.
The developer states that in 2012 its first pet friendly properties were made available to renters and the head of lettings for the firm said: “Unlike many other landlords and letting agencies, we have a flexible pet policy. We’ll sometimes ask tenants to attend a ‘pet interview’, where we will meet their pet just to double-check that it will fit in with the rest of the community and that it’s veterinary records are up to date.
“Since April, we have seen a huge increase of over 200 per cent in people viewing our ‘pet-friendly’ pages online compared to last year. Not only do dogs encourage daily exercise but they also help reduce stress and prevent loneliness during these isolated times.
“We’ve always had pet-friendly apartments ever since we opened our first building in 2016. By the time we were opening our second development we realised how important this was to renters, so we made all our apartments pet friendly.
“We are glad to have continued permitting dog-friendly access, but as more people have taken up pet ownership during lockdown, we hope to see more landlords weighing up the benefits.”
There has been widespread controversy surrounding the government’s issuing its new model tenancy agreement that includes a clause where landlords are expected to house pet owning tenants, although it is not compulsory to do so.
Currently Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell is aggressively pushing his Dogs and Domestic Animals Accommodation and Protection Bill through the House of Commons which has already had its first reading.
The Bill is promoting a reform of rental laws so that tenants with pets are able to live with them in their rented accommodation, as long as they can ‘demonstrate’ that they are caring owners, their pets are well behaved and this could be tied to a possible higher deposit to cover landlords.
Tory MP Rosindell told MPs: “What makes somewhere a home is something where special moments are created, living with a family, friends or companions. Moving into a new home is a normal part of life, but what if every time you moved, you faced the threat of being separated from someone you loved. Can a house or a flat ever really be a home if you have been forced to abandon a family member just to be able to move in?”.
Richard Merrick of PIMS says: “ This is madness if this goes ahead because besides Pet Chains Stores allowing customers along with their pets why shouldn’t it be made compulsory for restaurants allow customers with their furry friends to dine there, along with retail stores and all hotels ?
Richard added: “ The PRS could be the only sector being penalised by the government if they make it mandatory for tenants’ pets to be ‘housed’ with them.”
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