Romford MP backs campaign to make it easier for tenants to have pets

Andrew Rosindell was the one who sent the letter 

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell has joined a campaign to make it easier for tenants to have pets in rented accommodation.

He’s joined over 35 MPs and peers, animal welfare, landlord and housing organisations in urging Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, to change the law.

Research published today shows the Tenant Fee Act 2019 has had a negative impact on those with pets in rented accommodation.

“Heads for Tails”, by pet charity AdvoCATS, finds that almost one in five landlords who previously allowed pets in rented accommodation have stopped doing so since the legislation was first introduced.

The report explains the Act has effectively prohibited landlords from asking for pet damage insurance and it also fails to include a separate pet deposit, this has led to many landlords implementing a blanket ban on pets in rented accommodation.

It also finds that the public and landlords would be in favour of introducing pet deposits and pet damage insurance, over half of the pet owners say they would be willing to take out the insurance if required to do so.

Parliamentarians have written to Mr Jenrick urging him to “read the attached report and its recommendations closely.”

Included in its list of signatories are Andrew Rosindell, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, Chris Bryant, APDAWG Chair Lisa Cameron, Tim Farron, APGOCATs Co-chair Andrew Gwynne, Dr Neil Hudson, Caroline Lucas, Robert Halfon and APGOCATs Chair Sheryll Murray as well as a number of animal welfare, landlord and housing organisations.

Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford, previously proposed Jasmine’s Law which would have established the right to bring pets into rented accommodation.

He said: “Since I first proposed Jasmine’s Law to Parliament it has only become more clear to me that we need to urgently find a solution to the problem of how to bring pets into rented accommodation.

“Jen Berezai’s recommendations on changing the Tenant Fees Act are clear, simple and easily achievable. They have the support of pet charities, landlords and the public. The Government should urgently be looking at making this change.”

Jen Berezai, Co-founder of AdvoCATS and author of the report said:

“Data just published by property giant Rightmove shows that demand for pet-friendly properties has increased by 120% since last summer, yet the Government’s own statistics state that just 7% of landlords market their properties as pet friendly.

“The equation simply doesn’t work and change is desperately needed.”

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