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The case for keeping pets with families in social housing
As the Renters’ Rights Bill moves through parliament, social housing tenants remain excluded from its provisions on pet ownership. Ruairidh Nichols, senior public affairs officer at Dogs Trust, highlights why this needs to change
Ruairidh Nichols is senior public affairs officer at the Dogs Trust
Imagine having to choose between your beloved pet – possibly your only family – and having a roof over your head. This awful decision is one that some in social housing are still having to face in England. But it doesn’t need to be this way.
The government announced in September that the Renters’ Rights Bill, which is currently progressing through parliament, would give tenants in private rental properties the right to request to keep a pet without fear of that request being unreasonably refused. We believe that this legislation will be transformative for those in private rentals who would like to experience the joys of pet ownership.
Over time we hope that it may also lead to a more pet-friendly private rental sector. This would be extremely welcome, as last year Dogs Trust received more than 45,000 handover enquiries, with around 15% citing housing-related issues. It was particularly the difficulty of finding pet-friendly accommodation that forced many to make the heartbreaking decision to part with their pets.
However, as it stands, the bill will not extend the right to request a pet to people living in social housing.
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Currently, access to pet-friendly social housing is a lottery, with availability often dependent on location and social housing provider.
Some social housing providers are already making positive strides towards being pet-friendly. For example, Dogs Trust is currently partnered with Manor Estates Housing Association in Scotland, working to enhance their pet-friendly offer and positively impact all tenants, staff and the local community.
However, providers such as these are the exception rather than the rule. We need a baseline in legislation that ensures all social housing tenants can request a pet without fear of unreasonable refusal.
That’s why Dogs Trust is now calling on people to support its campaign by countersigning a letter to the housing secretary requesting that social housing tenants also be given the right to request permission to keep a pet, with that request not being unreasonably denied.
“According to Dogs Trust’s National Dog Survey, 98% of those surveyed told us that their dog makes them feel happy”
However, this goes beyond fairness. Keeping pets and their families together in social housing can be hugely beneficial to both physical and mental health.
Data from the English Housing Survey 2022-23 revealed more than half (56%) of all social renting households had at least one member of the household with a long-term illness or disability. Of those, 41% of social renters reported suffering from poor mental health.
According to Dogs Trust’s National Dog Survey, 98% of those surveyed told us that their dog makes them feel happy, with 96% reporting that owning a dog is good for their mental health and 89% saying their dog provides emotional support. In addition, studies have proven a strong link between having a dog and improved heart health.
Given these obvious benefits, we believe that the case for giving social renters the right to request a pet is overwhelming, and we urge the government to commit to extending this right as soon as possible.
Scotland and Wales have already recognised and acted on this issue. Proposals in the Housing (Scotland) Bill would extend the right to request a pet to those in social housing, and the provisions of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, which allow for a tenant to request to keep a pet, apply to both the social and private rented sectors.
“Studies show that 26% of tenants would be more likely to stay longer in a property if they were allowed to keep a pet”
While the new rights for private tenants will help those seeking to bring a pet into an existing tenancy, they alone will not address the overall shortage of pet-friendly housing. Dogs Trust is encouraging the government to work closely with both private and social housing sectors to increase confidence in renting to pet owners and ensure they are not at a disadvantage when seeking suitable accommodation.
Research by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection shows that while 46% of private landlords say they allow pets, only 30% of tenants report that their tenancy agreements permit dogs. The same research revealed that in over a third of cases where pets were not allowed, landlords had not made a decision based on individual circumstances but rather followed generic advice or used standard templates.
Allowing pets in rental properties not only benefits tenants but also offers advantages for landlords. Studies show that 26% of tenants would be more likely to stay longer in a property if they were allowed to keep a pet, providing landlords with greater tenant stability.
To help increase the availability of pet-friendly rental properties, Dogs Trust has been offering guidance and resources for pet owners, landlords and letting agents through its Lets with Pets scheme.
Ruairidh Nichols, senior public affairs officer, Dogs Trust
