LANDLORDS should no longer stop tenants from keeping pets unless they are badly behaved, under a government diktat.
Only seven per cent of landlords advertise properties as suitable for animals.
Landlords should no longer stop tenants from keeping well-behaved pets, the Government says
Many renters are forced to give up their cherished companions as a price for moving in.
But Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has ordered the Governments model tenancy contract to be rewritten to remove all restrictions on well-behaved pets.
The agreement is the recommended contract for landlords to use when signing new tenants.
Mr Jenrick told HOAR: Pets bring a huge amount of joy and comfort to peoples lives, helping their owners through difficult times and improving their mental and physical wellbeing.
Its a shame thousands of animal-loving tenants and their children cant experience this because they rent their homes instead of owning.
So, Im overhauling our model tenancy contract.
The move is part of an array of new measures being rolled out to help renters as part of a Tory election promise.
The action will not be legally binding, but Mr Jenrick has not ruled out enshrining it in legislation if landlords refuse to go easier on pets.
He added: 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.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick is overhauling the model tenancy contract and has ordered the Government to rewrite it in order to remove restrictions on well-behaved pets
