A new law change means landlords can no longer ban tenants from having pets in their properties, without good reason.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has effectively banned landlords from stopping their tenants owning a pet.
At present, only seven per cent of private landlords advertise properties that are pet friendly, which means many tenants struggle to find homes, or worse, have to give their pets up should they need to move into rented accommodation.
Now, The Ministry of Housing has introduced a new Model Tenancy Agreement for landlords. Consent for pets will now be "the default position" and if landlords want to object, they will have to do so in writing, within 28 days of a pet request.
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They will also be required to provide a valid reason - such as size of property, practicality (for example, living in a flat) or other issues.
To ensure landlords are protected, tenants will have to repair or cover the cost of any damage to the property.
"We are a nation of animal lovers and over the last year more people than ever before have welcome pets into their lives and homes," said housing minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP.
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"But it can't be right that only a tiny fraction of landlords advertise pet friendly properties and in some cases people have had to give up their beloved pets in order to find somewhere to live.
"Through the changes to the tenancy agreement we are making today, we are bringing an end to the unfair blanket ban on pets introduced by some landlords.
"This strikes the right balance between helping more people find a home that's right for them and their pet while ensuring landlords' properties are safeguarded against inappropriate or badly behaved pets."
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You can find out more on the change here.
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