It’s good news for anyone owning a dog, cat, lizard, tortoise or any other pet today (June 16), especially if you’re looking to move house soon. New changes to rights for tenants, published by the government today, have revealed that it will become easier than ever to rent a property alongside your beloved pets.
New laws now mean that Landlords of properties cannot place blanket bans on owning pets, and can also no longer ban people with children or anyone receiving benefits.
Landlords must now have a valid reason for refusing pet ownership in their properties. Tenants will have the right to submit a form to request a pet in the Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper. This is also used to protect tenants against unfair rent hikes, no-fault evictions, and demanding properties in unfit conditions, such as those that are damp, to be fixed.
Research from lettings company Goodlord suggested that around 7% of Landlords currently accept pets in their property, so this ruling is likely to expand the options of many a pet owner when looking for somewhere to live.
It also looks like Housing Secretary Michael Gove is set to introduce a measure meaning Landlords have the right to request an insurance policy for any damage caused by pets to the property.
Read more about the bill for private renters, which has been published today, on the Government website.