RENTERS could soon be allowed to have cats and dogs in their homes – without getting the go-ahead from their landlord.
The government is looking at a new law that would stop landlords from banning pets in their properties.
Thousands of Brits have already adopted pets to keep them company during the pandemic, but doing so could get renters in hot water with their landlord.
In the UK, only seven per cent of landlords advertise their properties as being suitable for animals and many contracts don’t allow them.
Others charge tenants ‘pet rents’ of hundreds of pounds per year.
Under the proposed rules, pet owners would have to pass a “responsible ownership test” before they could move in their furry friend.
This might mean vaccinating and microchipping their pet and making sure it responds to basic commands.
The proposed law is known as the Dogs and Domestic Animals (Accommodation and Protection) Bill and it is being brought forward by the Tory MP for Romford, Andrew Rosindell.
But it is being nicknamed Jasmine’s Law, after the pet Weimaraner of a family from Surrey who was not allowed to live in their house.
This week, Rosindell has been speaking to landlords about the proposed change, including speaking to the body that represents landlords, the NRLA.
They told him they wanted landlords to be able to decide about pets on a “case by case basis”.
