Everyone has a right to a decent home
The UK government has just recently published their plans to reform the private rental sector and put quality, affordability, and fairness at its heart. They have issued a White Paper – A Fairer Private Rented Sector – that sets out how they intend to deliver on this mission, raising the bar on quality and making this new deal a reality for renters everywhere.
One of the government’s goals is to provide a more positive renting experience. This includes giving the tenant(s) the right to request that they can have a pet in their property, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. This was recently reported by the BBC.
The White Paper states ‘domestic pets can bring joy, happiness, and comfort to their owners, as well as supporting their mental and physical wellbeing including through challenging times’.
The government will legislate to ensure landlords do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home, with the tenant able to challenge a decision. Alongside this, we will make it easier for landlords to accept pets by amending the Tenant Fees Act 2019 to include pet insurance as a permitted payment. This means landlords will be able to require pet insurance so that any damage to their property is covered. We will continue to work with landlords and other groups to encourage a common-sense approach.
To read the full white paper, click here.