A proposed law aimed at preventing landlords in England from imposing blanket bans on pets in private rented properties has moved one step closer to becoming reality.
The Renters’ Rights Bill, which would give tenants the legal right to request permission to keep a pet, passed its second reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 9 October, and will now progress to the committee stage for further consideration.
If passed, the law would represent a significant shift in the private rental sector. Currently, landlords can refuse pets without providing any justification. Under the new legislation, pet requests could not be unreasonably denied, providing more opportunities for renters to keep pets in their homes.
RSPCA’s Campaign for Pet-Friendly Rentals
The RSPCA, a long-time advocate for changes to pet ownership rules in the rental market, welcomed the bill’s progress. Many rescue centres, including those operated by the RSPCA, are struggling with overcrowding, and the organisation believes this new law could help alleviate the pressure.
Harriet Main, Public Affairs Manager at the RSPCA, commented: “This is an important step forward for a proposed law which will help all those who have been unfairly denied the chance to own a pet purely because of living in rental accommodation.”
Main emphasised the significance of allowing pets in rented homes, stating that pets should be able to live with their owners unless there is a clear, justifiable reason to refuse. She also highlighted the potential for the new law to improve animal welfare by enabling more renters to adopt rescue animals.
“We know, if passed into English law, countless renters will now get the chance to rehome a rescue pet, and pets will get the legal recognition they deserve,” Main added.
Rising Numbers of Rescue Pets in RSPCA Centres
The RSPCA’s concerns about the increasing number of pets in their care are well-founded. In 2023, the organisation reported that 42% more animals arrived at their centres than were adopted. While the RSPCA successfully found homes for over 28,000 animals last year, more than 40,000 pets arrived at their shelters across England and Wales.
Karen Colman, who leads the RSPCA’s animal placement team, said the current situation is challenging: “Our rescue centres are jam-packed, and across the board, we’ve been seeing more animals coming to us than we are rehoming.”
For many prospective pet owners, living in rented accommodation has prevented them from adopting. The proposed law could change this by allowing more renters to adopt pets, helping to ease the burden on overcrowded shelters.
Impact of Blanket Bans on Pet Owners
The current system, which allows landlords to impose blanket bans on pets, has not only prevented new adoptions but has also forced some existing pet owners to make heartbreaking decisions. Pet owners who find themselves needing to move may struggle to find rental properties that allow pets, leading to the potential surrender of their animals to shelters.
Although the UK Government previously published model tenancy agreements encouraging landlords to accept pets by default, these were not legally binding. Attempts to legislate for a change were shelved following the dissolution of Parliament before the UK General Election in July.
The RSPCA hopes the passing of the Renters’ Rights Bill will provide renters with the opportunity to experience the joys of pet ownership while ensuring that pets, particularly rescue animals, find loving homes.
