Campaigning organisation AdvoCATS has given the new Renters Rights Act a lukewarm reception, claiming the new legislation will be significantly less effective in increasing the number of pet friendly landlords than it could have been.
Jen Berezai, founder of the Long Eaton-based organisation, said: “This huge piece of new legislation had the potential to make renting with pets easier and fairer for both tenants and landlords alike, and that opportunity has been squandered.
“Here’s just one example: a PRS (Private Rental Sector) professional who had convinced over 2000 landlords to alter their stance on pets on the understanding that they’d be able to ask for pet damage insurance, but that premise is no more. A minimum of 2000 pets taken out of rescue. Scale that up across the country, it would have been the answer to every rescue’s prayers."
Under the new legislation, tenants will have the legal right to request a pet which a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. However, the right for a landlord to require pet damage insurance, which formed part of the original Renters Reform Bill under the previous government, and which was initially carried over to Renters Rights by the Labour administration, was removed in June of this year.
Jen added: “Pet damage insurance offered a practical, affordable and budget friendly solution to tenants wanting to rent with pets, which was also popular with landlords wary of potential damage costs
“We were bitterly disappointed that such a common-sense way of persuading more landlords to be pet friendly was taken off the Bill.”
“The government have said they are “confident the existing deposit arrangement will be enough to cover pet damage", yet in the same breath, claim they removed the insurance provision due to lack of products available and an industry not ready for “enquiries at scale.” Well which one is it? Because we know the products are out there, and we know the industry is ready, yet during a meeting with MHCLG last month, my offer to provide contacts for more information was not taken up.”
“The Renters Rights Act is a step forward for tenants with pets, but it’s no giant leap for petkind. Think of it as like being touted a satisfying three course meal, but ending up with a packet of crisps, a Pot Noodle and an ice lolly.”
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