MPs support local charity's campaign

Long Eaton-based pets charity AdvoCATS has launched a campaign to make renting a home with pets easier and fairer for tenants and landlords.

Heads for Tails, a report published by the organisation, proposes that Parliament amend the Tenant Fees Act to allow landlords and letting agents to request pet damage insurance or charge a deposit, as a condition for bringing a pet (s) into rented accommodation.

A select number of MPs (including 17 in the East Midlands), some of whom are also landlords and/or whose constituencies are in rental hot spots, have been sent a copy of the comprehensive report, in order to enlist their support in bringing about a change in the law to solve the problem of landlords banning pets.

With only 7% of landlords advertising their properties as pet friendly, too many tenants face having to surrender their pet (s) in order to rent a home.  This, coupled with the fact that more people than ever before are renting property, has generated a real crisis in animal shelters, not to mention the emotional trauma it creates for both pet owner and the pet.

Heads for Tails has been compiled by pet activist Jen Berezai, who runs AdvoCATS, a charity based in Long Eaton, that assists cat owners who are having difficulty finding rental accommodation.  The research has been endorsed not only by many animal focussed organisations, but also those who make up the private rented sector (PRS), and including the MP for Romford, Andrew Rosindell, and NOAH, the National Office for Animal Health, both of whom have provided forewords to the document.

It points out that as a consequence of the Tenants Fees Act’s failure to allow pet deposits and because it also prohibits landlords from requiring pet insurance or a pet deposit as part of a tenancy agreement, one in five landlords who previously allowed pets no longer do so. “Landlords have either responded to this Act by imposing a blanket “no pets” clause, or increasing rents for pet owners,” said Jen Berezai.

Nigel Lewis, editor LandlordZONE said “To solve the ‘lets with pets’ conundrum landlords need re-assurance that there are no risks or costs attached to renting to tenants with pets, while dog and cat owning renters need a scheme that enables them to unlock more properties within the PRS. AdvoCATS’ proposals achieve the balanced approach that’s needed to achieve both aims."

The main aim of AdvoCATS’ campaign is to have Parliament amend the Tenant Fees Act 2019 to enable landlords to either stipulate pet damage insurance is provided, or charge a separate capped pet deposit, so avoiding the devastating impact of “no pets” clauses. 

AdvoCATS is urging MPs to bring the report’s findings to the attention of MP Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and recommend the Tenant Fees Act be amended to solve the detrimental consequences it has created for tenants and landlords, as highlighted in its Head for Tails report. 

Jen Berezai explained further - she said: "The whole Heads for Tails! report and ensuing campaign really seems to caught the mood of the industries involved as a whole - we have a phenomenal amount of support from some major players in both the animal welfare and private rented sectors, which, when added to the fact that demand for pet friendly homes has increased by 120% since just last summer, surely means the Government must take heed of this report and react accordingly?" 

Giles Inman of East Midlands Property Owners said: "EMPO recognises pets for many tenants are treated as part of their families. It's important to support any amendment to the Tenant fee ban legislation that will encourage more landlords to accept pets."

A report on the AdvoCATS campaign was published in Politics Home, a House of Commons publication, on September 1st.