Dogs are shown the door
17 Jul 2008 11:05
AN ALARMING new report has shown that 75 per cent of dogs are banned from private rental properties.
This statistic could not come at a worse time as the country faces the threat of recession. With increasing numbers of Brits forced to downsize or rent property there is a real risk that thousands of dogs may be abandoned or handed over to rehoming charities.
Many of the 16,000 animals Dogs Trust cares for each year have come from owners forced to hand them over because they cannot find pet-friendly rental properties. Several of the charity’s 17 rehoming centres have already reported an increase in calls from owners requesting help with vet bills or rehoming their pet due to financial difficulties.
‘Lets with Pets’ is the latest Dogs Trust campaign helping dogs whose owners are facing a serious housing crisis because their landlords do not allow pets. Dogs Trust, which commissioned the recent report, is working with the lettings industry to help demonstrate how pet-inclusive tenancy agreements can benefit both the landlord and tenant.
To understand the scale of the problem the charity conducted a nationwide survey of more 1,400 pet owners in June 2008. The results were alarming, the charity said:
* 78 per cent of owners experienced difficulties finding privately-rented accommodation which allowed pets;
* 54 per cent did not find anywhere that allowed pets:
* 20 per cent bought property, did not move or are still looking;
* 14 per cent kept their animal without landlord’s knowledge or consent;
* 12 per cent rented an unsuitable property in order to keep their pet;
* 8.5 per cent rehomed their pet to friends, family or a rescue centre;
* 0.4 per cent had their pet put to sleep.
Forty-seven per cent of landlords gave prospective tenants no reason why animals were banned. The least friendly landlords live in the West Midlands with 83 per cent of owners having difficulty finding accommodation.
Northern Ireland has the most pet-friendly landlords – but 66 per cent of owners still have problems finding rented accommodation there.
Things are no better for other pets, Dogs Trust say; 65 per cent of landlords ban cats and ten per cent even ban fish.
“Pet owners who need to rent privately are being forced to live in unsuitable properties, or rent with their pets without consent from their landlord,” said the charity’s chief executive, Clarissa Baldwin. “Even though a dog is for life, in some extreme cases owners are having to give up their beloved pets or else face becoming homeless.
“We are consulting with the Association of Residential Lettings Agencies, other professional housing bodies and letting agents to develop ‘Lets with Pets’, a UK-wide campaign encouraging landlords to accept pet-owning tenants and help owners find the elusive pet-accepting landlord.”
Top tips
The charity has compiled five top tips for finding pet-friendly accommodation: write a ‘CV’ for your dog so a landlord can consider objectively if the animal is suitable: consider the dog’s breed, size age and activity level. If a dog is purebred, list the breed’s positive traits.
Try to highlight the dog’s history of good behaviour and house training, and state if it has attended and completed training classes. Get a pet reference from any previous landlord or letting agent and offer to pay a larger deposit to cover any damage.
Supply details of your vet and provide proof of up-to-date vaccinations, worming and flea treatments. Tell the landlord how long the dog will be left alone in the property on a regular basis.
It will help if you are able to state whether you will take your dog to work, arrange for day care or be at home with your dog most of the time. Stress that dogs are very effective as a burglar deterrent!
• Dogs Trust staff are also becoming increasingly concerned about the dramatic rise in people needing to hand over their dog due to money worries. Six months ago there were only 75 people on the waiting list for the charity’s Leeds centre but it has now reached a record high of more than 640. The centre has also been hit by particularly low visitor numbers.
“Until this increases and the current canine residents find homes the waiting list will sadly continue to grow,” said a spokesman. “The region’s owners are finding it tough at the moment but there are ways to save money without having to give up your dog. We’re happy to advise anyone on how to do this, especially if it stops another dog joining our waiting list.”