Two animal welfare charities are calling on the government to introduce better protection for pet-owning renters following an increase in the number of pets being handed over to rehoming charities.

Dogs Trust and Cats Protection have each seen a marked increase in rehoming enquiries with the latter taking in around 1,300 cats last year alone. Dogs Trust claim that around 10% of rehoming enquiries are coming from people having to downsize their housing, but struggling to find suitable pet-friendly accommodation.

Cats Protection states that of the almost three cats per day that they take in, landlords not allowing pets in their property is the eighth-most common reason given.

Currently, there are no legal rights for renters with pets, and landlords can refuse to rent to tenants with pets. However, the government updated its Model Tenancy Agreement in 2021 to remove blanket bans on pets from the standard contract. Under this agreement, any restrictions on pet ownership must be ‘reasonable’; however, there is no legal requirement for landlords to use it.

The government has outlined plans to introduce better protection for tenants as part of its Renters Reform Bill, due to be put forward to parliament in the next few months. Draft policies detailed in a White Paper published last year included giving tenants the right to request a pet in the property which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse.

Research conducted by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection shows that 46% of landlords say they allow pets. However, the number of tenants saying their tenancy allows pets is much lower than this, with just 30% saying their landlord would allow a dog in the property and 32% saying cats are permitted.

The same research revealed that, in over a third of cases where cats or dogs have not been allowed by a private landlord, the landlord did not proactively decide this based on the individual tenants or pets, but either followed advice or used a standard template.

The research goes on to find that 26% of tenants would stay longer in a property if they were allowed to keep a pet.

Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director of Dogs Trust, says: “We are pleased to see that the government has plans to include pet-friendly policies in its Renters Reform Bill, and hope to see these rights enshrined into law soon so that the benefits of pet ownership are no longer exclusive to homeowners, but open to renters as well.”

Madison Rogers, Head of Advocacy and Government Relations for Cats Protection, says: “Pet ownership should not be a privilege in modern society and Cats Protection is urging the government to move forward with planned legislation to end blanket ‘no pets’ policies and give renters with pets better protections.

“In the meantime, there are a few things renters looking for a pet-friendly property can do: start looking for pet-friendly housing early, proactively ask letting agents or landlords if they allow pets even if it says ‘no pets’ on the advert and create a Pet CV outlining the measures you will take to be a responsible pet owner, such as providing veterinary records and details of your pet’s behaviours.”